L.   P.   SHIDY 


x 


Si        y 


MEN  WHO  HAVE  RISEN. 


ENTERED  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1859,  by 
W.  A.  TOWNSEND  it  CO., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Conrt  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  Yoik. 


W.  II.  TIMSON,  Stereotypcr. 


THE  ROTHSCHILDS TIIK    IIF.ITBLICAN    SOLDIERS. 

'  He  did  noi  attempt  to  conceal  any  of  bis  own  property.     Hi  suffered  tbtm  to  carry  it  a'.l  off.-' 
FAGK  49. 


\V.    A.    TOT\rXSEXD    &    COMPANY. 
1861. 


UH 

CT/07 


IN  MEMORIAM 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 
Stephenson,  The  Railway  Pioneer, 7 

The  Beginning  of  the  Rothschilds, 48 

The  rise  of  the  Peel  Family, 53 

Wilson,  the  Ornithologist, 80 

West,  the  Artist, 100 

Astor,  the  Millionaire, Ill 

Hutton,  the  Bookseller, 121 

Franklin,  the  Navigator, 145 

Obeiiin,  the  Pastor, 163 

Burritt,  the  Linguist, 121 

Wilhelm,  the  Knife-grinder, 206 

The  Story  of  Hugh  Miller's  Early  Days, 225 

Linna3us,  the  Naturalist, 277 

Smeaton,  the  Engineer, 285 

Rittenhouse,  the  Mathematician, 299 


922S&9 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


I  AGE. 

The  Rothschilds  and  the  Republican  Soldiers,  (Frontispiece.) 
Vignette  Title 

George  Stephenson 21 

The  Spinning-Jenny 70 

Wilson  and  the  Mouse 90 

Button's  Escape 125 

Oberlin,  the  Pastor 178 

Hugh  Miller  and  Companion  in  the  Cave 246 


MEN  WHO  HATE  RISEN. 


'Whoe'er,  amidst  the  sons 
Of  reason,  valor,  liberty  and  virtue, 
Displays  distinguished  merit,  is  a  noble 
Of  Nature's  own  creating." 


STEPHENSON,  THE  KAILWAY 
PIOKEEK. 

WITHIN  the  last  thirty  years  a  revolution  has  been 
effected  in  our  social  relations,  and  the  surface 
of  the  country  has  undergone  a  change  wondrous 
as  the  transformations  of  a  geologic  era.  The 
greatest  works  of  antiquity  cannot  stand  compari- 
son with  our  railways,  when  we  take  into  consider- 
ation their  magnitude  and  utility — the  engineer- 
ing skill  and  amount  of  capital  involved  in  their 
construction.  It  is  estimated  by  the  biographer 
of  George  Stephenson  that  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  alone,  iron  rails  have  been  laid  more  than 
sufficient  to  girdle  the  globe;  tunnels  and  viaducts, 
upwards  of  one  hundred  miles  in  extent,  have 
pierced  hard  rock-mountains,  and  spanned  deep 


8  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

valleys  j  and  earthworks  have  "been  constructed 
capable,  according  to  calculation,  of  forming  a 
mountain  half-a-mile  in  diameter  at  its  base,  and 
towering  upwards  one  mile  and  a-half  in  height. 
It  seems  almost  incredible  that  worts  of  such  mag- 
nitude, requiring  for  their  construction  an  unpre- 
cedented amount  of  capital,  labor  and  skill,  should 
have  been  completed  in  little  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century.  The  great  value,  the  absolute  neces- 
sity, of  railway  communication,  in  these  days  of 
flourishing  trade  and  extending  commerce,  is  made 
abundantly  manifest  by  the  rapidity  with  which 
the  country  has  been  incased  in  a  network  of  iron. 
George  Stephenson  came  when  a  new  system  of 
internal  intercourse  was  demanded  by  the  wants 
of  the  age,  and  his  invention  of  the  Locomotive 
Engine  gave  an  impulse  to  science  and  art,  to 
commerce  and  civilization,  greater  than  we  can 
fully  estimate.  The  life  of  the  man  who  inaugur- 
ated the  modern  system  of  Railways,  and  who, 
by  patient  plodding  perseverance  and  invincible 
determination,  rendered  possible  a  declared  im- 
possibility, possesses  the  deepest  interest,  and  en- 
forces the  most  valuable  lessons.  The  biography 
of  the  most  eminent  of  English  engineers  cannot 
foil  to  prove  attractive  in  no  ordinary  degree,  un- 
folding as  it  does  the  career  of  one  who  rose  from 
obscurity  to  well-earned  fame  and  affluence,  and 
who  must  be  pronounced  a  model-worker — the  re- 
presentative practical  man  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. Availing  ourselves  of  the  information  col- 


STErilEXSON,    THE   RAILWAY   PIONEER.  9 

lected  by  Mr.  Samuel  Smiles  in  his  bulky  biogra- 
phy, we  give  the  following  epitome  of  the  life  of 
this  true  Railway  King  : 

George  Stephensou  was  born  at  Wylam — a 
colliery  village  about  eight  miles  west  of  New- 
castle-on-Tyne — on  the  9th  of  June,  1781.  His 
parents  inhabited  a  laborer's  cottage  of  the  hum- 
blest class,  with  unplastered  walls,  clay  floor,  and 
exposed  rafters.  "  Old  Bob,"  as  his  father  was 
familiarly  called,  fired  the  old  pumping-engine  at 
the  Wylam  Colliery — a  careful,  hard-working  man ; 
and  Mabel  Stephenson,  his  mother,  though  troub- 
led occasionally  with  the  "vapors,"  was  held  in 
the  highest  esteem  by  her  neighbors.  They  were 
an  honest,  decent,  respectable  couple,  such  as  we 
may  find  in  colliery  cottages  and  elsewhere.  "  Old 
Bob  "  was  a  genuine  character,  a  self-taught  roman- 
cist,  and  natural  naturalist ;  and  it  is  pleasant  to 
think  of  him  on  the  winter  evenings  gathering  the 
children  of  the  village  around  his  engine-fire,  and 
telling,  in  strong  Northumbrian  speech,  the  stories 
of  "Sinbad"  and  Robinson  Crusoe,"  or  wandering 
about  during  the  summer  months  in  search  of 
birds'  nests,  when  the  day's  "darg"  was  done. 
George  was  the  second  oF  a  family  of  six  children 
• — four  sons  and  two  daughters.  None  of  them 
were  ever  sent  to  school.  The  weekly  wages  of  a 
fireman  were  barely  sufficient,  even  with  rigid 
economy,  to  afford  the  family  a  sufficient  supply  of 
food  and  clothing. 

The  first  duties  of  the  future  eminent  engineer 


10  MEN    WnO    HAVE   RISEN. 

consisted  in  carrying  his  father's  dinner  to  him  while 
at  work,  in  nursing  the  younger  children,  and  see- 
ing that  they  were  kept  out  of  the  way  of  the  chal- 
dron wagons,  which  were  dragged  by  horses  along 
a  wooden  tramroad  immediately  in  front  of  the 
cottage-door.    He  next  herded  the  cows  of  a  widow 
at  Dewley  Burn,  whither  the  family  removed  from 
Wylam,  when  the  coal  was  worked  out,  and  the 
old   engine  pulled   down.     Besides  herding  the 
widow'-s  cows,  he  was  appointed,  at  the  wage  of 
twopence  a-day  (four  cents),  to  bar  the  gates  at 
night  after  all  the  coal-wagons  had  passed.     The 
herd-boy  spent  his  spare  time  in  making  whistles 
and  little  mills,  and  erecting  clay  engines.  The  child 
is  father  of  the  man.    Wilkie  drawing  pencil-heads 
on  his  slate  for  pins,  and  Stephenson  modeling 
clay  engines  for  amusement,  had  already  begun 
the  labor  of  their  lives.     From  that  humble  origin, 
from  the  rude  attempts  of  a  herd-boy  sitting  by 
the  side  of  the  Dewley  Burn,  sprung  the  great 
system  of  British  Railways.     Feeding  cows,  lead- 
ing horses  at  the  plow,  and  hoeing  turnips,  did 
not,  however,  suit  the  taste  of  the  embryo  en- 
gineer, and  he  was  much  elated  when  advanced  to 
the  position  of  "picker"  at  the  colliery,  where  he 
was  employed,  along  with  his  elder  brother,  in 
clearing  the  coal  of  stones  and  dross.     His  wages 
were  now  sixpence  a-day,  and  rose  to  eightpence 
(sixteen   cents)    when    he    drove  the    gin-horse. 
Shortly  after  he  was  sent  to  Black  Callerton  Col- 
liery, about  two  miles  from  Dewley  Burn,  to  drive 


8TEPHENSOX,   THE   RAILWAY   PIONEER.          11 

the  gin  there ;  and  he  is  described  by  the  old  peo- 
ple of  that  place  as  a  "grit  barelegged  laddie,  very 
quick-witted,  and  full  of  fun  and  tricks."  There 
was  genuine  mettle  and  promise  in  the  boy  so 
characterized.  We  can  picture  him  there,  the 
rough,  unkempt,  barelegged  collier  "laddie,"  driv- 
ing his  gin-horse,  whistling  on  his  own  whistles, 
cracking  a  whip  of  his  own  manufacture,  and  in- 
dulging in  practical  jokes  at  the  expense  of  grim 
pitmen.  When  off  duty,  he  went  bird-nesting, 
having  inherited  from  "Old  Bob"  a  strong  attach- 
ment to  birds  and  animals.  He  tamed  young 
blackbirds,  taught  them  to  fly  about  the  cottage 
unconfined  by  cages,  and  prided  himself  upon  the 
superiority  of  his  breed  of  rabbits. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen,  the  "grit  barelegged 
laddie "  became  assistant  fireman  to  his  father  at 
Dewley.  His  ambition  was  to  be  an  engineman, 
and  his  exultation  was  unbounded  when  he  at- 
tained the  long-desired  promotion.  He  had  now 
got  upon  the  right  track,  and  his  career  of  pro- 
gress began  with  his  appointment  as  assistant  fire- 
man. From  Dewley,  the  family  removed  south- 
wards to  Jolly's  Close,  where  a  new  coal-mine  had 
recently  been  opened.  They  lived  hi  a  poor  cot- 
tage of  one  apartment,  where  father,  mother,  sons, 
and  daughters,  ate  their  humble  meals,  and  slept 
their  hurried  sleep.  At  Jolly's  Close,  George  was 
removed  to  one  of  the  workings  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  was  now  fifteen  years  old ;  a  steady, 
sober,  hard-working  young  man.  He  was  fond  of 


12  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

trying  feats  of  strength  with  his  companions.  At 
throwing  the  hammer  he  had  no  compeer,  and 
seems  to  have  been  equally  successful  in  lifting 
heavy  weights. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  George  had  got  ahead 
of  his  father  in  his  station  as  a  workman.  He  was 
appointed  plugman  of  a  pumping-engine,  while  his 
father  worked  it  as  fireman.  No  sooner  did  he 
occupy  this  responsible  post,  than  he  devoted  him- 
self assiduously  to  the  study  of  the  engine,  taking 
it  frequently  to  pieces  in  his  leisure  hours,  for  the 
purpose  of  cleaning  and  mastering  its  parts,  and 
thus  he  early  acquired  a  thorough  practical  know- 
ledge of  its  construction,  and  disciplined  his  inven- 
tive faculty.  An  engine  seemed  to  attract  him  by 
some  mysterious  fascination ;  it  was  no  dull,  groan- 
ing machine  in  his  estimation,  but  a  thing  instinct 
with  wondrous  life.  Its  complicated  mechanism 
absorbed  his  interest,  and  excited  his  admiration  ; 
and  the  minute  study  of  its  details,  while  quicken- 
ing his  powers  of  observation,  made  him  an  accom- 
plished workman,  and  gained  for  him  the  increased 
confidence  of  his  employers.  At  this  period  he 
worked  twelve  hours  every  day,  and  earned  twelve 
shillings  (about  three  dollars)  a-week.  The  "  grit 
barelegged  laddie"  has  now  taken  a  considerable 
stride  in  advance. 

George  Stephenson  was  eighteen  years  of  age 
before  he  knew  his  letters,  and  he  does  not  appear 
to  have  felt  the  want  until  he  was  told  that  all  the 
engines  of  Watt  and  Bolt  on,  about  which  he  was 


STEPHENSON,   THE   RAILWAY   PIONEEK.         16 

so  anxious  to  know,  were  to  be  found  described  in 
books — and  the  alphabet  was  yet  to  him  a  hidden 
mystery !  It  affords  a  striking  illustration  of  the 
persevering,  searching,  indomitable  spirit  of  the 
young  man,  that  no  sooner  did  he  feel  his  want — 
no  sooner  was  the  conviction  forced  upon  him  that 
he  must  learn  to  read  before  further  progress  was 
possible,  than  immediately  he  went  to  school,  big 
as  he  was,  and  commenced  in  earnest  the  work  of 
self-culture.  He  was  not  ashamed  to  confess  his 
ignorance ;  he  was  proud  that  he  possessed  the  ca- 
pability of  learning.  A  poor  teacher  in  the  village 
of  Walbottle  kept  a  night-school,  and  there  George 
Stephenson  took  his  first  lessons  in  spelling  and 
reading,  and  practiced  "  pot-hooks."  One  can 
imagine  the  big  bony  engineman  bending  over  his 
desk,  and  laboring  sore  at  the  unwonted  task. 
Andrew  Robertson,  a  Scotch  dominie,  who  enjoy- 
ed the  reputation  of  being  a  skilled  arithmetician, 
was  the  next  teacher  from  whom  George  took 
lessons.  He  made  rapid  progress,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  Winter  had  mastered  "reduction,"  while 
the  junior  fireman  was  heating  his  brains  over  sim- 
ple division.  He  improved  every  spare  minute  by 
the  engine-fire  in  working  out  the  sums  set  for  him 
by  the  learned  dominie  of  Newburn,  and  the  pa- 
tient pupil  was  not  long  in  outstripping  his  teacher. 
To  perseverance  all  things  are  possible,  and  where 
the  desire  to  learn  was  so  strong,  rapid  attainment 
was  certain.  In  this,  as  in  other  respects,  Stephen- 
son  may  be  held  up  as  a  memorable  model  to  young 


t  MEN    WHO    HAVE    KISEN. 

men.  Against  every  disadvantage  of  circumstance 
and  fortune,  he  struggled  onwards,  by  sheer  force 
of  will,  and  the  determination  to  succeed.  Many 
men,  unschooled  like  him  in  boyhood,  and  of  equal 
natural  ability,  ashamed  to  confess  their  ignorance, 
would  have  remained  without  instruction,  and  thus 
neglected  the  means  and  the  opportunity  of  better- 
ing their  condition,  and  of  rising  from  obscurity  to 
eminence. 

Stephenson — ever  rising  steadily  step  by  step — 
became  brakesman  at  Black  Callerton  when  he  had 
attained  his  twentieth  year,  and  his  wages  amount- 
ed to  from  five  to  ten  dollars  in  the  fortnight.  By 
extra  work  during  leisure  hours,  he  increased  his 
earnings,  and  he  had  the  happy  facility,  peculiar  to 
some  men  gifted  with  mechanical  genius,  of  being 
able  to  turn  his  hand  to  any  and  everything.  He 
grew  expert  in  making  and  mending  the  shoes  of 
his  fellow-workmen.  His  chef  cPoeuvre  in  the  cob- 
bling department  was  soleing  the  shoes  of  his 
sweetheart,  Fanny  Henderson,  a  servant  in  a  neigh- 
boring farm-house.  So  delighted  was  the  amateur 
shoemaker  with  his  performance,  that  he  carried 
the  shoes  about  with  him  in  his  pocket  on  the  Sun- 
day afternoon,  and  exhibiting  them  to  a  friend,  ex- 
claimed, "What  a  capital  job  he  had  made  of 
them !  "  From  shoemending  he  contrived  to  save 
his  first  guinea,  and  considered  himself  to  be  a  rich 
man.  He  did  not,  like  many  of  the  other  work- 
men, spend  his  earnings  in  the  public-house;  he 
was  habitually  steady,  and  applied  his  spare  time 


STEPHKNSON,    THE    RAILWAY    riO-N'EEK.          15 

to  master  the  powers  and  mechanisms  of  the  engine. 
lie  had  a  definite  purpose  in  view  when  he  saved 
his  first  guinea.  It  gradually  attracted  a  few 
more,  and  the  industrious  brakesman  soon  managed 
to  save  as  much  money  as  enabled  him,  on  leaving 
Black  Callerton  for  Willington  Quay,  to  furnish  a 
humble  house,  and  marry  Fanny  Henderson.  After 
the  marriage  ceremony,  George  rode  over  to  Wil- 
lington on  a  borrowed  horse,  with  his  newly-wed- 
ded wife  sitting  on  the  pillion  behind  him,  and 
holding  on  by  her  arms  around  his  waist.  He  con- 
tinued the  same  regular  course  of  life,  working 
hard  during  the  day,  and  studying  the  principles  of 
mechanics  in  the  evenings  by  the  side  of  his  young 
wife.  He  also  modeled  experimental  engines,  and 
occupied  himself  much  in  endeavoring  to  discover 
Perpetual  Motion.  He  allowed  few  moments  to 
pass  unimproved ;  his  eye  was  ever  observant,  and 
his  mind  ever  active.  He  could  make  and  mend 
shoes,  cut  out  shoe-lasts,  clean  clocks,  and  model 
complicated  machines ;  and  whatever  he  did  was 
creditable  alike  to  his  ingenuity  and  his  skill. 
While  residing  at  Willington,  his  only  son  Robert 
was  born — that  son  who  has  contributed  so  much 
to  heighten  the  distinction  of  the  Stephenson  name. 
The  child  was  from  the  first  a  great  favorite  with 
his  father,  and  added  a  fresh  charm  to  the  domes- 
tic hearth. 

George  Stephenson  worked  for  about  three 
years  as  a  brakesman  at  the  Willington  machine, 
and  then  removed  to  a  similar  situation  at  Killing- 


16  MEN   WHO   HATE   EISEBT. 

worth,  a  village  lying  about  seven  miles  north  of 
Newcastle,  where  the  coal-workings  are  of  great 
extent,  and  a  large  number  of  people  are  employed. 
Much  interest  attaches  to  his  settlement  in  this 
place,  as  it  was  here  that  his  practical  qualities  as 
an  engineer  were  fully  developed,  and  that  he  ac- 
quired the  reputation  of  an  inventor.  He  came  to 
Killingworth  in  1804,  and  he  had  scarcely  settled 
down  ere  he  sustained  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of 
his  much-loved  Fanny.  A  man  of  strong  affections, 
he  felt  the  bereavement  bitterly.  He  bowed  his 
head  in  sorrow,  and  ever  fondly  cherished  the 
memory  of  his  young  wife.  While  mourning  her 
loss,  he  was  invited  to  superintend  the  working  of 
one  of  Bolton  and  Watt's  engines,  near  Montrose. 
He  accepted  the  invitation,  and,  leaving  his  boy  in 
charge  of  a  neighbor,  set  out  upon  his  long  jour- 
ney on  foot,  with  his  kit  upon  his  back.  He  re- 
turned to  Killingworth,  after  a  year's  absence, 
with  £28  ($160)  of  saved  money  in  his  pocket. 
During  his  stay  in  Scotland,  old  Robert  Stephen- 
son,  his  father,  had  been  severely  scorched,  and  his 
eye-sight  destroyed,  while  making  some  repairs  in 
the  inside  of  an  engine.  George's  first  step  was  to 
pay  off  his  father's  debts ;  and  soon  afterwards  he 
removed  his  aged  parents  to  a  comfortable  cottage 
iat  Killingworth,  where  they  lived,  supported  en 
tirely  by  their  dutiful  son. 

About  the  years  1807-8,  Stephenson  contem- 
plated the  idea  of  emigrating  to  the  United  States. 
Owing  to  the  great  war  in  which  England  was 


STEPHENSON,    THE   RAILWAY   PIONEEE.          17 

then  engaged,  taxes  pressed  heavily  upon  the 
laboring  class;  food  was  scarce  and  dear,  and 
wages  were  low ;  and  the  workman  saw  little  pros- 
pect of  any  improvement  in  his  condition.  The 
hard  won  earnings  of  George  Stephenson  were  paid 
to  a  militiaman  to  serve  in  his  stead ;  and  need  we 
wonder  if  he  should  almost  have  despaired  of  ever 
being  able  to  succeed  in  England  ?  He  could  not, 
however,  raise  the  requisite  money  to  emigrate, 
and  thus  his  poverty  was  ultimately  his  own  and 
his  country's  gain.  He  worked  on  steadily  as  a 
brakesman.  Stinted  as  he  was  for  means  at  the 
time,  he  resolved  to  send  his  son  Robert  to  school. 
"  In  the  earlier  period  of  my  career,"  said  he,  long 
afterwards,  in  a  speech  at  Newcastle,  "when 
Robert  was  a  little  boy,  I  saw  how  deficient  I  was 
in  education ;  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that  he 
should  not  labor  under  the  same  defect,  but  that  I 
would  put  him  to  school,  and  give  him  a  liberal 
training.  I  was,  however,  a  poor  man  ;  and  how 
do  you  think  I  managed?  I  betook  myself  to 
mending  my  neighbors'  clocks  and  watches  at 
night,  after  my  daily  labor  was  done ;  and  thus  I 
procured  the  means  of  educating  my  son." 

An  achievement  which  George  performed  at  this 
time  caused  his  name  to  be  noised  abroad  as  an  en- 
gine-doctor. At  the  Killingworth  High  Pit,  an  at- 
mospheric engine  was  fixed,  for  the  purpose  of 
pumping  out  the  water  from  the  shaft ;  but  the 
workmen  continued  to  be  "  drowned  out,"  pump 
as  the  engine  might.  Under  the  direction  of  Ste- 
2 


18  MEN   VttIO   HAVE   EISEN. 

phenson,  the  engine  was  taken  to  pieces,  and  so 
repaired  that  the  pumping  apparatus  proved  com- 
pletely successful.  He  received  a  present  of  £10, 
as  a  recognition  of  his  skill  as  a  workman.  After 
hard  struggling,  the  genius  of  the  man  now  began 
to  be  felt  and  acknowledged.  He  devoted  himself 
in  the  evenings,  with  renewed  energy,  to  self-im- 
provement, modeling  steam  and  pumping  engines, 
and  striving  to  embody  the  mechanical  inventions 
described  in  odd  volumes  on  mechanics.  From 
John  Wigham,  a  farmer's  -son,  he  derived  consider- 
able assistance  in  his  studies.  This  young  man 
taught  him  to  draw  plans  and  sections.  They 
carefully  pondered  together  Ferguson's  "Lectures 
on  Mechanics,"  and  invented  many  mechanical 
contrivances  to  aid  them  in  their  experiments. 
Wigham  expounded  principles,  and  Stephenson  re- 
duced them  to  practice. 

The  resolution  which  George  had  formed  to  give 
his  son  a  good  education,  he  was  able  to  carry  into 
effect,  by  managing  to  save  a  sum  of  £100.  This 
amount  he  accumulated  in  guineas,  and  sold  them 
to  Jews  at  twenty-six  shillings  a-piece.  A  shrewd, 
industrious  man  was  George  Stephenson,  and  one 
destined  to  rise  in  the  world.  He  sent  his  son  to 
an  academy  at  Newcastle,  where  he  commenced  a 
course  of  sound  instruction.  At  Killingworth, 
Stephenson  continued  to  astonish  the  neighborhood 
by  his  ingenious  mechanical  contrivances.  He  in- 
vented a  strange  "  fley  craw  "  to  protect  his  gar- 
den-crops from  the  ravages  of  birds ;  he  won  the 


BTEPIIENSOX,    THE   EAILWAY   PIONEEK.          19 

admiration  of  the  women,  by  connecting  their 
cradles  with  the  smoke-jack,  and  making  them 
self-acting ;  and  excited  much  wonder  in  the  pit- 
men, by  attaching  an  alarm  to  the  clock  of  the 
watchman,  whose  duty  it  was  to  call  them  up  in 
the  morning.  He  also  contrived  a  mysterious 
lamp,  which  burned  under  water,  and  attracted 
the  fish.  His  cottage  was  full  of  models,  engines, 
and  perpetual-motion  machines. 

In  1812  he  was  appointed  engine-wright  of  the 
Killingworth  Colliery,  at- the  salary  of  £100  a-year. 
He  is  ever  steadily  rising,  winning  more  and  more 
the  respect  of  his  employers,  and  gaining  for  him- 
self, by  manful  effort,  a  better  position  in  the  world. 
He  had  now  advanced  to  the  grade  of  a  higher- 
class  workman.  He  erected  a  winding  and  a 
pumping  engine,  and  laid  down  a  self-acting  in- 
cline at  AVillington.  The  practical  study  which  he 
had  given  to  the  steam  engine,  and  his  intimate 
acquaintance  with  its  powers,  were  of  immense  ad- 
vantage to  him  in  his  endeavors  after  improvement. 
The  locomotive  already  occupied  his  attention ;  he 
knew  its  value  and  its  capabilities ;  and  he  soon 
bent  the  whole  force  of  his  mind  to  develop  its 
might.  A  more  economical  method  of  working 
the  coal  trains,  instead  of  by  means  of  horses,  was 
a  great  desideratum  at  the  collieries.  Stephenson 
immediately  began  in  earnest  to  attempt  the  solu- 
tion of  the  problem.  He  first  made  himself 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  what  had  already  been 
done.  He  went  to  inspect  the  engines  which 


20  MEN    WHO    HAVE    KISEN. 

working  daily  at  "Wylam— slow,  cumbrous,  un- 
steady machines,  more  expensive  than  horses,  and 
certainly  much  slower  in  their  movements.  He 
declared  on  the  spot  that  he  could  make  a  much 
better  engine  than  Trevethick's.  One  of  Blenkin- 
sop's  Leeds  engines  he  saw  placed  on  the  tramway 
leading  from  the  collieries  of  Kenton  and  Coxlodge ; 
and  here  again,  after  examining  the  machine,  and  ob- 
serving its  performances,  he  asserted  that  "he  could 
make  a  better  engine  than  that  to  go  upon  legs." 
All  the  engines  constructed  up  to  this  time  were, 
in  his  estimation,  practical  failures,  unsteady  in 
their  movement,  and  far  from  economical  in  their 
working.  Much  ingenuity  had  already  been  shown, 
and  some  little  success  had  been  attained ;  but  a 
man  of  keen  practical  insight  and  great  persever- 
ance was  required  to  promote  the  efficiency  of 
every  part,  and  to  produce  a  good  working  ma- 
chine. Lord  Ravensworth,  one  of  the  lessees  of 
the  Killing-worth  Colliery,  after  hearing  Stephen- 
son's  statements,  authorized  him  to  proceed  with 
the  construction  of  a  locomotive.  With  such 
mechanics  and  tools  as  he  could  find  (and  both 
were  somewhat  clumsy),  he  set  to  work,  following 
in  part  the  plan  of  Blenkinsop's  engine.  The  lo- 
comotive was  completed  in  about  ten  months.  Its 
powers  were  tried  on  the  Killingworth  Railway  on 
the  25th  of  July,  1814,  and  it  succeeded  in  draw- 
ing after  it,  on  an  ascending  gradient  of  1  in  450, 
eight  loaded  carriages,  of  thirty  tons'  weight,  at 
about  four  miles  an  hour.  "  Blucher  "  was  a  great 


GEORGE  BTEPIIENSOX. 
•There  w?w  danger,  it  mijhtbe  de.i  h,  bef.-ro  linn,  but  he  must  go."— TAGS  21. 


STEPIIEXSOX,    THE   RAILWAY   PIONEER.         21 

advance  upon  all  previous  locomotives ;  but  it  was 
nevertheless  a  cumbrous  machine,  and  jolted, 
jerked,  and  rattled  like  the  gigantic  skeleton  of  a 
mammoth.  At  the  end  of  the  year,  the  steam- 
power  and  horse-power  were  found  to  be  nearly 
upon  a  par  in  point  of  cost.  The  locomotive  might 
have  been  condemned  as  useless,  had  not  Stephen- 
son  at  this  juncture  fortunately  invented  and  ap- 
plied the  steam-blast,  which  stimulated  combus- 
tion, increased  the  capability  of  the  boiler  to  gen- 
erate steam,  and  more  than  doubled  the  power  of 
the  engine.  The  success  of  the  steam-blast  was 
complete  ;  and  Stephenson  determined  to  construct 
a  second  engine,  embodying  all  the  improvements 
that  his  experience  suggested.  It  was  finished  in 
the  year  1815,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the  type  of 
the  present  locomotive  engine. 

At  this  period,  explosions  of  fire-damp  were  fre- 
quent in  the  Northumberland  and  Durham  coal- 
mines, attended  sometimes  by  fearful  loss  of  life. 
"  One  day,  in  the  year  1814,  a  workman  hurried  in 
to  Mr.  Stephenson's  cottage,  with  the  startling  in- 
formation that  the  deepest  main  of  the  colliery  was 
on  fire !  He  immediately  hastened  to  the  pit- 
mouth,  about  a  hundred  yards  off,  whither  the 
women  and  children  of  the  colliery  were  fast  run- 
ning, with  wildness  and  terror  depicted  in  every 
face.  In  an  energetic  voice  Stephenson  ordered 
the  engine-man  to  lower  him  down  the  shaft  in  the 
corve.  There  was  danger,  it  might  be  death,  be- 
fore him — but  he  must  go.  As  those  about  the 


22  MEN  wno  HAVE 

pit-mouth  saw  him  descend  rapidly  out  of  sight, 
and  heard  from  the  gloomy  depths  of  the  shaft  the 
mingled  cries  of  despair  and  agony  rising  from  the 
workpeople  below,  they  gazed  on  the  heroic  man 
with  breathless  amazement.  He  was  soon  at  the 
bottom,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  workmen,  who 
were  paralyzed  at  the  danger  which  threatened  the- 
lives  of  all  in  the  pit.  Leaping  from  the  corve  on 
its  touching  the  ground,  he  called  out,  'Stand 
back !  Are  there  six  men  among  you  who  have 
courage  enough  to  follow  me  ?  If  so,  come,  and 
we  will  put  the  fire  out.'  The  Killingworth  men 
had  always  the  most  perfect  confidence  in  George 
Stephenson,  and  instantly  they  volunteered  to  fol- 
low him.  Silence  succeeded  to  the  frantic  tumult 
of  the  previous  minute,  and  the  men  set  to  work. 
In  every  mine,  bricks,  mortar,  and  tools  enough 
are  at  hand,  and  by  Stephenson's  direction  mate- 
rials were  forthwith  carried  to  the  required  spot, 
where,  in  a  very  short  time,  a  wall  was  raised  at 
the  entrance  to  the  main,  he  himself  taking  the 
most  active  part  in  the  work.  Thus  the  atmos- 
pheric air  was  excluded,  the  fire  was  extinguished, 
and  the  people  were  saved  from  death,  and  the 
mine  was  preserved." 

After  this  accident,  Stephenson  set  about  devis- 
ing a  lamp  which  would  afford  sufficient  light  to 
the  miners,  without  communicating  flame  to  the 
inflammable  gas  in  the  pit.  His  experiments  re- 
sulted in  the  invention  of  the  Geordy  Safety 
Lamp.  The  name  of  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  has 


STEPHENSOX,   THE   RAILWAY   PIONEER.         23 

been  generally  identified  with  the  invention :  but 
it  now  seems  that  Stephenson  had  made  a  success- 
ful trial  of  his  lamp  before  Davy's  invention  was 
made  public. 

While  people  were  predicting  a  terrible  blow- 
up some  day  for  George's  locomotive  at  Killing- 
worth,  it  continued  to  perform  its  appointed  work. 
The  engine  was  indeed  subject  to  jolts  and  shocks, 
and  occasionally  it  was  thrown  off  the  road,  owing 
to  the  inequality  of  the  rails,  and  the  imperfection 
of  the  chairs  or  cast-iron  pedestals  into  which  the 
rails  were  inserted.  These  defects  did  not  long  re- 
main unnoticed  and  unamended.  In  September, 
1816,  an  improved  form  of  the  rail  and  chair  was 
embodied  in  a  patent  taken  out  in  the  joint  names 
of  Mr.  Losh  of  Newcastle,  ironfounder,  and  of  Mr. 
Stephenson.  Important  improvements  on  loco- 
motives previously  constructed  were  also  described 
in  the  specification  of  the  same  patent.  Mr.  Ste- 
phenson had  devised  an  ingenious  contrivance,  by 
which  the  steam  generated  in  the  boiler  was  made 
to  supply  the  place  of  springs  !  The  working  of 
the  new  locomotive  and  improved  road  was  highly 
satisfactory,  and  the  superiority  of  the  locomotive 
to  horse  traction,  both  as  regards  regularity  and 
economy,  was  now  completely  established.  The 
identical  engines  constructed  by  Mr.  Stephenson 
are  still  at  work  on  the  Killingworth  Railway. 
He  investigated  the  resistances  to  which  carria- 
ges are  exposed,  and  ascertained  by  experiment 
the  now  well-known,  but  then  much-contested 


24:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN". 

fact,   that   friction    was    uniform    at    all    veloci- 
ties. 

In  1820  Mr.  Stephenson  resolved  to  send  his  son 
Robert — who,  since  leaving  school  at  Newcastle, 
had  acted  as  under-viewer  in  the  West  Moor  Pit 
— to  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  He  was  fur- 
nished with  introductions  to  men  of  science  in  the 
Scottish  metropolis,  and  attended  the  lectures  of 
Dr.  Hope,  Sir  John  Leslie,  and  the  mathematical 
classes  of  Jamieson.  He  studied  at  Edinburgh  for 
only  one  session  of  six  months,  but,  possessing 
much  of  his  father's  zeal,  industry,  and  persever- 
ance, he  made  great  progress,  and  stored  his  mind 
with  scientific  knowledge.  He  subsequently  ren- 
dered his  father  the  most  valuable  assistance  in  de- 
veloping the  power  of  the  steam-engine,  and  in  the 
construction  of  railways. 

While  such  men  as  William  James,  Edward 
Pease,  and  Thomas  Gray,  were  agitating  the  gen- 
eral adoption  of  railways,  Stephenson  was  busy 
making  railways,  and  building  efficient  locomo- 
tives. A  very  large  capital  was  required  to  lay 
clown  rails  and  furnish  engines,  and  this  accounts 
in  part  for  the  slow  growth  at  first  of  the  railway 
system.  The  Hetton  Coal  Company,  possessing 
adequate  means,  and  observing  the  working  of  the 
Killingworth  line,  resolved  to  construct  a  railway 
about  eight  miles  in  length,  and  George  Stephen- 
son  was  requested  to  superintend  their  works. 
This  was  the  first  decisive  public  recognition  of 
his  engineering  skill.  The  line  was  opened  in  ]STo- 


STEPHENSOX,    THE   RAILWAY   PIONEEK.         25 

vember,  1822,  in  the  presence  of  a  crowd  of  spec- 
tators. Five  of  Stephenson's  locomotives  were  at 
work  on  that  day,  traveling  about  four  miles  an 
hour,  and  each  engine  dragging  after  it  a  train  of 
seventeen  wagons,  weighing  about  sixty-four  tons. 
In  1823  the  second  Stockton  and  Darlington 
Railway  Act  was  obtained.  Mr.  Stephenson  was 
appointed  the  company's  engineer,  at  a  salary  of 
£300  (nearly  $1500)  per  annum.  He  laid  out 
every  foot  of  the  ground  himself,  accompanied  by 
his  assistants.  He  surveyed  -indefatigably  from 
daylight  to  dusk,  dressed  in  top-boots  and  breech- 
es ;  and  took  his  chance  of  bread  and  milk,  or  a 
homely  dinner  at  some  neighboring  farmhouse. 
The  country  people  were  fond  of  his  cheerful  talk, 
and  he  was  always  a  great  favorite  with  the  chil- 
dren. One  day,  when  the  works  were  approaching 
completion,  he  dined  with  his  son,  and  John^Dixon, 
his  assistant,  at  Stockton.  After  dinner,  Mr.  Ste- 
phenson ordered  in  a  bottle  of  wine,  to  drink  suc- 
cess to  the  railway,  and  said  to  the  young  men, 
"  Now,  lads,  I  will  tell  you  that  I  think  you  will 
live  to  see  the  day,  though  I  may  not  live  so  long, 
when  railways  will  come  to  supersede  almost  all 
other  methods  of  conveyance  in  this  country ;  when 
mail-coaches  will  go  by  railway,  and  railroads  will 
become  the  great  highway  for  the  King  and  all  his 
subjects.  The  time  is  coming  when  it  will  be 
cheaper  for  a  working  man  to  travel  on  a  railway 
than  to  walk  on  foot.  I  know  there  are  great  and 
almost  insurmountable  obstacles  that  will  have  to 
2 


26  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

be  encountered.  But  what  I  have  said  will  come 
to  pass,  as  sure  as  I  live.  I  only  wish  I  may  live 
to  see  the  day,  though  that  I  can  scarcely  hope 
for,  as  I  know  how  slow  all  human  progress  is,  and 
with  what  difficulty  I  have  been  able  to  get  the 
locomotive  adopted,  notwithstanding  my  more 
than  ten  years'  successful  experiment  at  Killing- 
worth."  The  anticipations  of  the  great  engineer 
were  more  than  realized. 

The  Stockton  and  Darlington  line  was  opened 
for  traffic  in  September,  1825.  As  this  was  the 
first  public  railway,  a  great  crowd  of  people  as- 
sembled to  witness  the  ceremony  of  opening.  Mr. 
Stephenson  himself  drove  the  engine.  The  train 
consisted  of  thirty-eight  vehicles,  among  which 
were  twenty-one  wagons  fitted  up  with  temporary 
seats  for  passengers,  and  a  carriage  filled  with  the 
directors  and  their  friends.  The  speed  attained  in 
some  parts  was  twelve  miles  an  hour;  and  the  arrival 
at  Stockton  excited  deep  interest  and  admiration. 
The  line  was  found  to  work  excellently,  and  the 
goods  and  passenger  traffic  soon  exceeded  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  directors. 

An  important  step  in  the  progress  of  the  rail- 
way system  was  the  establishment  by  Mr.  Stephen- 
son  of  a  locomotive  manufactory  at  Newcastle. 
The  building,  small  at  first,  subsequently  assumed 
gigantic  dimensions.  Skilled  workmen  were  en- 
gaged, under  whose  direction  others  were  disci- 
plined. The  most  celebrated  engineers  of  Europe, 
America  and  India,  acquired  their  best  practical 


STEPIIENSOX,    THE   RAILWAY   TIONEEE.          27 

knowledge  in  the  Newcastle  factory.  It  continued 
to  be  the  only  establishment  of  the  kind,  until 
after  the  opening  of  the  Liverpool  and  Manchester 
line  in  1830. 

The  survey  of  this  railway  was  the  next  import- 
ant public  work  which  Mr.  Stephenson  was  re- 
quested to  undertake.  Great  was  the  opposition 
on  the  part  of  the  proprietors  of  the  lands  through 
which  the  line  was  intended  to  pass.  Lord 
Derby's  farmers  and  servants,  and  Lord  Sefton's 
keepers,  turned  out  in  full  force  to  resist  the  ag- 
gressions of  the  surveying  party.  The  Duke  of 
Bridgewater's  property-guard  threatened  to  duck 
Mr.  Stephenson  in  a  pond  if  he  proceeded ;  and 
he  had  to  take  the  survey  by  stealth,  when  the 
people  were  at  dinner.  The  opposition  of  landed 
proprietors  and  canal  companies  to  the  projected 
railway  grew  in  intensity,  when  the  survey,  im- 
perfect as  it  could  not  fail  to  be,  was  completed, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  introducing  the 
bill  into  Parliament.  The  Liverpool  and  Man- 
chester Bill  went  into  committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons  on  the  21st  of  March,  1825.  The  array 
of  legal  talent,  on  the  opposition  side  especially, 
was  something  extraordinary.  Mr.  George  Ste- 
phenson was  called  to  the  witness-box,  and  sub- 
jected to  a  rigorous  examination.  "  I  had  to  place 
myself  in  that  most  unpleasant  of  all  positions — 
the  witness-box  of  a  parliamentary  committee.  I 
was  not  long  in  it  before  I  began  to  wish  for  a 
hole  to  creep  out  at,  I  could  not  find  words  to 


28  MEN    WHO    HAVE    EISE2T. 

satisfy  either  the  committee  or  myself.  I  was 
subjected  to  the  cross-examination  of  eight  or  ten 
barristers,  purposely,  as  far  as  possible,  to  bewilder 
me.  One  member  of  the  committee  asked  if  I 
was  a  foreigner ;  and  another  hinted  that  I  was 
mad.  But  I  put  up  with  every  rebuff,  and  went 
on  with  my  plans,  determined  not  to  be  put  down." 
The  idea  of  a  train  going  at  the  rate  of  twelve 
miles  an  hour  was  considered  the  height  of  ab- 
surdity. A  good  story  is  told  of  Stephenson  dur- 
ing his  examination.  A  member  of  committee 
put  the  following  case : — "  Suppose,  now,  one  of 
these  engines  to  be  going  along  a  railroad  at  the 
rate  of  nine  or  ten  miles  an  hour,  and  that  a  cow 
were  to  stray  upon  the  line,  and  get  in  the  way  of 
the  engine,  would  not  that,  think  you,  be  a  very  awk- 
ward circumstance  ?  " — "  Yes,"  replied  the  witness, 
in  his  Northumbrian  speech  ;  "  very  awkward  in- 
deed— -for  the  coo."  The  examination  of  Mr. 
Stephenson  lasted  three  days ;  and  the  result  of 
the  contest  was  the  temporary  withdrawal  of  the 
bill.  This  was  sufficiently  discouraging,  and  the 
railway  system  seemed  about  to  be  crushed  at  the 
outset.  The  directors,  however,  nothing  daunted, 
were  determined  to  press  on  with  their  project. 
A  new  survey  was  made,  the  plans  were  deposited, 
and  the  bill  went  into  committee.  It  passed  the 
third  reading  in  the  House  of  Commons,  by  a 
majority  of  eighty-eight  to  forty-one ;  and  its  only 
opponents  in  the  House  of  Lords  were  the  Earl  of 
Derby  and  the  Earl  of  Wilton. 


STEPIIENSOX,    THE   RAILWAY    PIONEER.          29 

The  directors  appointed  Mr.  George  Stephen- 
son  their  principal  engineer,  at  a  salary  of  £1,000 
per  annum — a  mighty  advance  from  the  herd-boy 
with  his  twopence  per  diem.  The  Liverpool  and 
Manchester  directors  had  put  the  right  man  in 
the  right  place,  as  they  subsequently  found.  He 
immediately  began  to  make  the  road  over  Chat, 
Moss — a  work  which  the  distinguished  engineers 
of  the  day  had  declared  that  "  no  man  in  his 
senses  would  undertake  to  do."  But  George  Ste- 
phenson  did  not  know  the  meaning  of  the  word 
"  impossible."  For  weeks,  truck-load  after  truck- 
load  of  material  wras  poured  in,  without  any  sen- 
sible effect.  The  bog,  it  was  feared,  had  some 
connection  with  the  bottomless  pit.  The  directors 
became  alarmed,  and  Mr.  Stephenson  answered, 
"  We  must  persevere."  Other  weeks  passed  ;  the 
insatiable  bog  swrallowed  all;  the  solid  embank- 
ment made  no  sign.  A  special  meeting  of  the 
board  was  forthwith  held  on  the  spot,  to  consult 
whether  the  wrork  should  be  proceeded  with  or 
abandoned.  "An  immense  outlay  had  been  in- 
curred," said  Mr.  Stephenson  afterwards,  "  and 
great  loss  would  have  been  occasioned  had  the 
scheme  been  then  abandoned,  and  the  line  taken 
by  another  route.  So  the  directors  were  compelled 
to  allow  me  to  go  on  with  my  plan,  of  the  ultimate 
success  of  which  I  myself  never  for  one  moment 
doubted.  Determined,  therefore,  to  persevere  as 
before,  I  ordered  the  works  to  be  carried  on 
vigorously ;  and,  to  the  surprise  of  every  one  con- 


30  MEN    WHO    HAVE    KISEN. 

nected  with  the  undertaking,  in  six  months  from 
the  day  on  which  the  board  had  held  its  special 
meeting  on  the  moss,  a  locomotive  engine  and 
carriage  passed  over  the  very  spot,  with  a  party 
of  the  directors'  friends,  on  their  way  to  dine  at 
Manchester."  The  embankments,  the  bridges, 
the  Sankey  viaduct,  the  Rainhill  Skew  bridge, 
and  the  Olive  Mount  excavation,  were  regarded 
as  wondrous  works,  and  filled  even  "  distinguished 
engineers  "  with  admiration.  In  the  organization 
and  direction  of  navvies,  and  in  training  them  for 
their  special  work,  Mr.  Stephenson  also  manifested 
the  most  eminent  skill  and  ability.  He  was  a 
Napoleon  in  his  profession,  never  failing  in  his  re- 
sources or  his  undertakings;  a  man  of  infinite 
vigor  and  determination. 

While  the  works  were  in  progress,  many  con- 
sultations were  held  by  the  directors  as  to  the 
kind  of  power  which  was  to  be  employed  in  the 
working  of  the  railway  when  opened  for  traffic. 
Two  eminent  practical  engineers  reported  against 
the  employment  of  the  locomotive.  The  whole 
profession  stood  opposed  to  George  Stephenson, 
but  he  still  held  to  his  purpose.  Urged  by  his 
solicitations  to  test  the  powers  of  the  locomotive, 
the  directors  at  last  determined  to  offer  a  prize  of 
£500  for  the  best  locomotive  engine  which,  on  a 
certain  day,  should  be  produced  on  the  railway, 
and  fulfill  certain  conditions  in  the  most  satisfac- 
tory manner.  A  speed  of  ten  miles  an  hour  was 
all  that  was  required  to  be  maintained.  Mr.  Ste- 


STEPHENSOX,    THE   RAILWAY    PIONEER.          31 

phenson,  assisted  by  his  son,  who  had  returned 
from  South  America,  immediately  set  about  the 
construction  of  his  famous  "  Rocket."  An  import- 
ant principle  introduced  in  the  construction  01 
this  engine,  was  the  multi-tubular  boiler,  by  whicli 
the  power  of  generating  steam  was  greatly  in- 
creased. On  the  day  appointed  for  the  competi- 
tion at  Rainhill,  four  engines  were  entered  for  the 
prize:  first,  Messrs.  Braithwaite  and  Ericsson's 
"Novelty";  second,  Mr.  Timothy  Hackworth's 
"  Sanspareil " ;  third,  Mr.  Robert  Stephenson's 
"Rocket";  fourth,  Mr.  Burstall's  "Persever- 
ance." Mr.  Stephenson's  engine  was  first  ready, 
and  entered  upon  the  contest.  It  drew  after  it 
thirteen  tons'  weight  in  wagons,  and  the  maxi- 
mum velocity  attained  during  the  trial  trip  was 
twenty-nine  miles  an  hour — three  times  the  speed 
that  one  of  the  judges  had  declared  to  be  the 
limit  of  possibility.  The  average  speed  was  fif- 
teen miles  an  hour.  The  spectators  were  filled 
with  a  great  astonishment ;  and  one  of  the  direc- 
tors lifted  up  his  hands,  and  exclaimed,  "  Now  is 
George  Stephenson  at  last  delivered ! "  The 
"Sanspareil"  weighed  five  hundredweights  be- 
yond the  weight  specified,  and  was  excluded  from 
competition.  The  steam-generator  of  the  "  Nov- 
elty" burst,  and  ended  its  performance.  The 
"  Perseverance  "  did  not  fulfill  the  advertised  con- 
ditions ;  and  the  prize  of  £500  was  accordingly 
awarded  to  the  "  Rocket "  as  the  successful  en- 
gine. 


32  MEN    WHO    HAVE    RISEN. 

The  public  opening  of  the  Liverpool  and  Man- 
chester Railway  took  place  on  the  15th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1830.  Eight  locomotives,  constructed  by 
the  Messrs.  Stephenson,  had  been  placed  upon  the 
line.  The  Duke  of  Wellington,  Sir  Robert  Peel, 
Mr.  Huskisson,  one  of  the  members  for  Liver- 
pool, and  a  large  body  of  distinguished  persons, 
were  present ;  for  the  completion  of  the  work  was 
justly  regarded  and  celebrated  as  a  national  event. 
The  lamentable  accident  to  Mr.  Huskisson,  who 
was  struck  down  by  the  "  Rocket,"  and  expired 
that  same  evening,  cast  a  gloom  over  the  day's 
proceedings.  The  "  Northumbrian  "  engine  con- 
veyed the  wounded  body  a  distance  of  fifteen 
miles  in  twenty-five  minutes — a  rate  of  speed 
which  at  the  time  excited  much  wonder  and  ad- 
miration. The  success  of  the  railway  in  a  com- 
mercial point  of  view,  was  immediate  and  decisive. 
Soon  after  the  opening,  it  carried,  on  an  average, 
about  1,200  passengers  a-day.  Mr.  Stephenson, 
whose  energy  and  perseverance  had  thus  triumphed 
so  signally  over  all  difficulties  and  opposition,  con- 
tinued to  improve  the  construction  and  develop 
the  powers  of  the  locomotive.  The  "  Planet " 
was  an  improvement  upon  the  "  Rocket,"  and  the 
"  Samson"  was  an  improvement  upon  the  "Planet." 
The  number  of  competitors  who  appeared  about 
the  time,  stimulated  Mr.  Stephenson's  inventive 
faculties,  and  he  succeeded  in  sustaining  the  su- 
periority of  his  engines. 

The  practicability  of  Railway  Locomotion  being 


STEPJIENSON,    THE   RAILWAY    PIONEER.         33 

now  proved,  other  joint-stock  companies  speedily 
arose  in  the  manufacturing  districts,  and  George 
Stephenson  was  appointed  engineer  of  the  prin- 
cipal projected  lines.  The  landowners  might  be 
horrified  at  the  idea  of  "  fire-horses  "  snorting  and 
puffing  through  their  fields,  causing  premature 
births  among  the  cattle,  and  frightening  the  poul- 
try to  death ;  but  merchants  and  manufacturers 
did  not  feel  disposed  to  sacrifice  the  interests  of 
commerce  to  the  absurd  fears  of  timid  or  superan- 
nuated proprietors.  The  London  and  Birmingham 
Railway  was  the  most  important  on  which  the 
Messrs.  Stephenson  were  soon  afterwards  engaged, 
The  works  were  of  the  most  formidable  descrip- 
tion ;  but  the  difficulties  encountered  only  roused 
the  energies  of  father  and  son.  The  formation  of 
the  Kilsby  Tunnel — 2400  yards  in  length,  and  pen- 
etrating about  160  feet  below  the  surface — was 
justly  regarded  as  a  great  engineering  triumph. 
The  number  of  bricks  used,  according  to  estimate, 
was  sufficient  to  make  a  good  footpath,  a  yard 
broad,  from  London  to  Aberdeen !  Some  idea  of 
the  magnitude  of  the  works  may  be  formed  from 
the  cost  of  construction,  which  amounted  to  five 
million  sterling.  Practical  ability  of  the  highest 
kind,  and  energy  that  never  flagged,  were  neces- 
sary to  bring  such  works  to  a  successful  issue. 

Mr.   Stephenson  removed  from  Liverpool    to 
Alton  Grange,  near  Ashby-de-la-Zouch,  in  Leices- 
tershire, in  1832.      He  had  leased  the  estate  of 
Snibston,  certain  that  coal  was  to  be  found  in  the 
3 


3  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

district,  and  he  soon  discovered  a  rich  bed  of  that 
mineral.  As  railway  projects  were  now  springing 
up  all  over  England,  he  was  often  called  from 
home  for  the  purpose  of  making  surveys.  A  pri- 
vate secretary  accompanied  him  on  his  journeys. 
He  was  averse  himself  to  writing  letters  ;  but  he 
possessed  the  power  of  laboring  continuously  at 
dictation.  It  it  stated  that  in  one  day  he  dictated 
thirty-seven  letters,  many  of  them  embodying  the 
results  of  close  thinking  and  calculation.  He 
could  snatch  his  sleep  while  traveling  in  his  chaise, 
and  by  break  of  day  he  would  be  at  work  again 
surveying  until  dark.  He  was  always  fresh  and 
energetic,  when  secretaries  and  assistants  were 
knocked  up  and  unfit  for  duty.  He  took  an  office 
in  London  during  the  session  of  1836,  and  this 
office  was  for  many  years  the  busy  scene  of  railway 
politics. 

The  importance  of  the  Midland  Railway,  as 
opening  up  new  coal-markets,  Mr.  Stephenson 
early  detected.  "  The  strength  of  Britain,"  he 
would  say,  "  lies  in  her  coal-beds ;  and  the  locomo- 
tive is  destined,  above  all  other  agencies,  to  bring 
it  forth.  The  Lord  Chancellor  now  sits  upon  a 
bag  of  wool ;  but  wool  has  long  ceased  to  be  em- 
blematical of  the  staple  commodity  of  England. 
He  ought  rather  to  sit  upon  a  bag  of  coals,  though 
it  might  not  prove  quite  so  comfortable  a  seat. 
Then  think  of  the  Lord  Chancellor  being  address 
ed  as  the  noble  and  learned  lord  on  the  coal-sack  ! 
I  am  afraid  it  wouldn't  answer,  after  all."  He 


STEPIIEX30X,   Tin:   .RAILWAY   PIONEEE.          35 

took  a  lease  of  the  Clay  Cross  Colliery,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  London  demand  for  railway-led  coal. 
Tapton  House,  near  Chesterfield,  thencefor wards 
continued  his  residence  until  the  close  of  his  life. 

A  keen  competition  of  professional  ability  among 
engineers  was  excited  by  the  general  demand  for 
railways  which  sprang  up  after  the  opening  of  the 
Liverpool  and  Manchester  line.  Jealousy,  of 
course,  also  prevailed,  and  it  was  long  before  tho 
regular  professional  men  would  recognize  George 
Stephenson  as  entitled  to  the  status  of  a  civil 
engineer  !  He  was  an  interloper  ;  he  was  born  to 
be  a  brakesman,  and  should  have  remained  so  ;  he 
had  no  right  to  do  what  he  had  done !  The  ap- 
preciation and  generous  admiration  of  genius  is  the 
last  thing  that  can  be  expected  of  your  "  regular  " 
respectable  professional  men.  George  Stephenson 
could  well  afford  to  despise  his  detractors,  so  long- 
as  the  country  recognized  his  power.  The  desire 
to  be  original,  and  to  excel  Stephenson,  became  a 
passion  with  some  of  the  new  "  fast "  engineers. 
They  proposed  undulating  railways,  atmospheric 
railways,  alterations  of  the  gauge,  increase  of  loco- 
motive speed  to  one  hundred  miles  an  hour,  and  a 
variety  of  absurd  and  impracticable  projects.  Mr. 
Stephenson,  in  opposition  to  the  "  fast "  men,  de- 
fended the  importance  of  the  uniform  gauge,  pro- 
nounced the  atmospheric  system  to  be  "gimerack," 
and  declared  that  the  introduction  of  steep  gra- 
dients would  neutralize  every  improvement  which 
he  had  madev  The  soundness  of  his  judgment  in 


36  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

these  particulars  experience  lias  proved.  He  always 
kept  in  view  ecunomy,  public  utility,  and  commer- 
cial advantage,  and  gave  no  countenance  to  schemes 
that  would  be  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  share- 
holders. 

In  1840,  George  Stephensoii  publicly  intimated 
his  intention  of  retiring  from  the  more  active  pur- 
suit of  his  profession,  and  resigned  the  charge  of 
several  of  the  railways  of  which  he  was  chief 
engineer.  He  longed  to  enjoy  rest  and  leisure  in 
the  retirement  of  Tapton  House — a  place  beautiful 
for  situation,  looking  down  from  its  wooded  emi- 
nence upon  the  town  of  Chesterfield,  and  command- 
ing an  extensive  prospect  over  a  rich  undulating 
country.  He  contemplated  improvements  in  the 
garden  and  pleasure-grounds ;  but  some  years 
elapsed  before  he  could  carry  them  into  effect. 
Although  he  had  retired  from  the  more  active  pur- 
suit of  his  profession,  he  was  not  allowed,  nor  did 
he  allow  himself,  to  rest.  He  was,  in  1844,  ap- 
pointed engineer  of  the  Whitehaven  and  Maryport 
Railway,  along  with  his  friend  and  former  assistant, 
John  Dixon.  He  was  also  elected  Chairman  of  the 
Yarmouth  and  Norwich  Railway.  When  the 
Thames  and  the  Tyne  were  connected  by  a  con- 
tinuous line,  the  event  was  worthily  celebrated : 
Newcastle  held  holiday ;  and  a  banquet  in  the  As- 
sembly Rooms  in  the  evening  assumed  the  form  of 
nn  ovation  to  Mr.  Stephensoii  and  his  son.  In  re- 
plying to  the  complimentary  speech  of  the  cliuir- 
iv! an,  Mr.  Stephensoii  gave  a  short  autobiogi  aphic 


STEPHENSOX,    THE   EAILWAY    PIONEEE.          37 

sketch,  part  of  which  we  have  already  quoted. 
The  Iligh  Level  Bridge  over  the  Tyne  at  Newcas- 
tle— one  of  the  most  striking  and  picturesque  erec- 
tions to  which  railways  have  given  birth — was 
shortly  afterwards  projected  by  George  Stephen- 
son  ;  but  he  did  not  live  to  see  it  completed. 

As  early  as  the  year  1835,  Mr.  Stephenson  and 
hib  son  had  been  consulted  by  Leopold,  King  of 
the  Belgians,  as  to  the  formation  of  the  most  effi- 
cient system  of  lines  throughout  his  kingdom.  In 
consideration  of  the  great  English  engineer's  valu- 
able assistance,  and  the  services  which  he  had  ren- 
dered to  civilization,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Bel- 
gian King  a  Knight  of  the  Order  of  Leopold.  The 
same  honor  was  afterwards  conferred  on  his  distin- 
guished son  by  royal  ordinance.  When  the  Sam- 
bre  and  Meuse  Company,  in  1845,  obtained  the 
concession  of  a  line  from  the  Belgian  legislature, 
Mr.  Stephenson  proceeded  to  Belgium  for  the  pur- 
pose of  examining  the  district  through  which  the 
proposed  line  was  to  pass.  He  went  as  far  as  the 
Forest  of  Ardennes  and  Rocroi,  examining  the 
bearings  of  the  coal-fields,  the  slate  and  marble 
quarries,  and  iron  mines.  The  engineers  of  Bel- 
gium invited  him  to  a  magnificent  banquet  at 
Brussels.  "  The  public  hall,  in  wrhich  they  enter- 
tained him,  wras  gaily  decorated  with  flags,  prom- 
inent amongst  which  was  the  Union  Jack,  in  honor 
of  their  distinguished  guest.  A  handsome  marble 
pedestal,  ornamented  with  his  bust,  crowned  witli 
laurels,  occupied  one  end  of  the  room.  The  chair 


33  MEN    WHO    HAVE   KISEItf. 

was  occupied  by  M.  Massui,  the  chief  director  of 
the  National  Railways  of  Belgium  ;  and  the  most 
eminent  scientific  men  of  the  kingdom  were  pre- 
sent. Their  reception  of  the  '  father  of  railways ' 
was  of  the  most  enthusiastic  description.  Mr.  Ste- 
phensoii  was  greatly  pleased  with  the  entertain- 
ment. Not  the  least  interesting  incident  of  the 
evening  was  his  observing,  when  the  dinner  was 
about  half  over,  a  model  of  a  locomotive  engine 
placed  upon  the  centre  of  the  table,  under  a  trium- 
phal arch.  Turning  suddenly  to  his  friend  Lop- 
•\vict,  he  exclaimed,  '  Do  you  see  the  Rocket  ? '  It 
was  indeed  the  model  of  that  celebrated  engine; 
and  Mr.  Stephenson  prized  the  compliment  thus 
paid  him  perhaps  more  than  all  the  encomiums  of 
the  evening."  He  had  a  private  interview  with 
King  Leopold  next  day,  at  the  royal  palace  of 
Laaken,  near  Brussels.  Mr.  Stephenson  w^as  gen- 
tlemanly, simple,  and  unpretending ;  maintained 
the  most  perfect  ease  and  self-possession,  and  des- 
cribed to  the  king  the  geological  structure  of  Bel- 
gium. The  "  grit  barelegged  laddie  "  is  now  teach- 
ing a  king!  In  describing  the  coal-fields,  Mr. 
Stephenson  used  his  hat  as  a  sort  of  model  to  illus- 
trate his  meaning,  and  on  leaving  the  palace,  said 
to  his  friend,  "  By  the  by,  Lopwict,  I  was  afraid 
the  king  would  see  the  inside  of  my  hat,  for  it's  a 
shocking  bad  one ! "  He  paid  a  second  visit  to 
Belgium  in  the  course  of  the  same  year,  for  the 
_  purpose  of  examining  the  direction  of  the  proposed 
West  Flanders  Railway,  and  had  scarcely  return- 


STEPHEXSOX,    THE   RAILWAY   PIONEEK.          39 

ed,  before  he  was  requested  to  proceed  to  Spain,  to 
report  upon  a  project  then  on  foot  for  constructing 
the  Royal  North  of  Spain  Railway.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  Sir  Joshua  Walmsley,  and  several 
other  gentlemen.  In  passing  through  Irun,  St. 
Sebastian,  St.  Andrew,  and  Bilbao,  they  were  met 
by  deputations  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  who 
were  interested  in  the  subject  of  their  journey. 
Mr.  Stephenson  was  not  long  in  forming  an  un- 
favorable opinion  of  the  entire  project,  and  it  was 
consequently  abandoned.  From  fatigue  and  the 
privations  endured  by  him  while  carrying  on  the 
survey  among  the  Spanish  mountains,  he  became 
ill  on  the  homeward  journey.  After  a  few  weeks' 
rest  at  home,  he  gradually  recovered,  although  his 
health  remained  shaken. 

The  Ambergate  and  Manchester  line,  which  re- 
ceived the  sanction  of  Parliament  in  1848,  was  the 
last  railway  in  the  promotion  of  which  he  took  any 
active  part.  He  resided  at  Tapton  House,  enjoy- 
ing his  garden  and  grounds,  and  indulging  that 
love  of  nature  which  remained  strong  within  him 
to  the  last.  He  built  new  melon-houses,  pineries, 
and  vineries  of  great  extent,  and  became  eager  to 
excel  his  neighbors  in  the  growth  of  exotic  plants. 
His  grapes  took  the  first  prize  at  Rotherham,  at  a 
competition  open  to  all  England.  Rivalry  was  the 
very  life  of  the  man,  and  he  was  never  satisfied 
until  he  had  excelled  all  competitors.  He  fed  cat- 
tle after  methods  of  his  own,  and  was  very  partic- 
ular as  to  breed  and  build  in  stock-breeding. 


40  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEtf. 

Again,  as  when  a  boy,  he  began  to  keep  rabbits, 
and  prosecuted  con  amore  his  old  occupation  of 
bird-nesting.  From  close  observation,  he  was 
minutely  acquainted  with  the  habits  of  British 
birds.  He  read  very  little  in-doors  ;  his  greatest 
pleasure  was  in  conversation.  He  was  fond  of  tell- 
ing anecdotes  illustrating  the  struggles  of  his  early 
life.  He  would  sometimes  indulge  his  visitors  in 
the  evening  by  reciting  the  old  pastoral  "  Damon 
and  Phyllis,"  or  singing  "  John  Anderson  my  Joe." 
The  humbler  companions  of  his  early  life  were  fre- 
quently invited  to  his  house  ;  he  assumed  none  of 
the  high  airs  of  an  upstart,  but  treated  them  as  his 
equals.  He  was  charitable  to  the  needy,  and  so 
bestowed  his  gifts  that  the  delicacy  of  the  fastidious 
was  never  offended. 

"  Young  men  would  call  upon  him  for  advice  or 
assistance,  in  commencing  a  professional  career. 
When  he  noted  their  industry,  prudence,  and 
good  sense,  he  was  always  ready.  But,  hating 
foppery  and  frippery  above  all  things,  he  would  re- 
prove any  tendency  to  this  weakness  which  he  ob- 
served in  the  applicants.  One  day  a  youth,  desir- 
ous of  becoming  an  engineer,  called  upon  him, 
flourishing  a  gold-headed  cane.  Mr.  Stephenson 
said,  '  Put  by  that  stick,  my  man,  and  then  I  will 
speak  to  you.'  To  another  extensively-decorated 
young  man  he  one  day  said,  '  You  will,  I  hope,  Mr. 

,  excuse  me  ;  I  am  a  plain-spoken  person,  and 

am  sorry  to  see  a  nice-looking  and  rather  clever 
young  man  like  you  disfigured  with  that  fine- 


STEPIIENSON,    THE   BAILWAY   PIONEEK.         41 

patterned  waistcoat,  and  all  these  chains  and  fang- 
dangs.  If  I,  sir,  had  bothered  my  head  with  such 
things  wlien  at  your  age,  I  would  not  have  been 
where  I  am  now." 

During  the  later  years  of  his  life,  Mr.  Stephen- 
son  took  a  deep  interest  in  educational  institutes 
for  the  working  classes.  He  had  many  thousand 
workpeople  engaged  in  his  works  at  Tapton  and 
Clay  Cross;  and  he  established  a  model  educa- 
tional institute,  beneficial  alike  to  employers  and 
employed. 

The  inventive  faculty  of  the  eminent  engineer 
did  not  slumber  when  he  retired  to  the  seclusion 
of  private  life.  In  1846  he  brought  out  his  design 
of  a  three-cylinder  locomotive.  It  has  not  come 
into  general  use,  owing  to  the  greater  expense  of 
its  construction  and  working.  In  1847  he  invent- 
ed a  new  self-acting  break.  He  communicated  a 
paper  on  the  subject,  accompanied  by  a  model,  to 
the  Institute  of  Mechanical  Engineers  at  Birming- 
ham, of  which  he  was  president. 

Sir  Robert  Peel  on  more  than  one  occasion 
invited  Mr.  Stephenson  to  Drayton.  He  refused 
at  first,  from  an  indisposition  to  "  mix  in  fine  com- 
pany ;  "  but  ultimately  went.  "  On  one  occasion, 
an  animated  discussion  took  place  between  him- 
self and  Dr.  Buckland,  on  one  of  his  favorite 
theories  as  to  the  formation  of  coal ;  but  the  re- 
sult was,  that  Dr.  Buckland,  a  much  greater 
master  of  tongue-fence  than  Stephenson,  com- 
pletely silenced  him.  Next  morning,  before 


4:2  MEN   WHO   HATE   KISEN. 

breakfast,  when  he  was  walking  in  the  grounds, 
deeply  pondering,  Sir  William  Follett  came  up, 
and  asked  what  he  was  thinking  about.  '  Why, 
Sir  William,  I  am  thinking  over  that  argu- 
ment I  had  with  Buckland  last  night.  I  know 
I  am  right,  and  that,  if  I  had  only  the  com- 
mand of  words  which  he  has,  I'd  have  beaten 
him.'  '  Let  me  know  all  about  it,'  said  Sir 
William,  '  and  I  '11  see  what  I  can  do  for  you. 
The  two  sat  down  in  an  arbor,  where  the  astute 
lawyer  made  himself  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  points  of  the  case,  entering  into  it  with  all 
the  zeal  of  an  advocate  about  to  plead  the  dearest 
interests  of  his  client.  After  he  had  mastered 
the  subject,  Sir  William  rose  up,  rubbing  his 
hands  with  glee,  and  said,  '  Now  I  am  ready  for 
him.'  Sir  Robert  Peel  was  made  acquainted  with 
the  plot,  and  adroitly  introduced  the  subject  of 
the  controversy  after  dinner.  The  result  was, 
that,  in  the  argument  which  followed,  the  man  of 
science  was  overcome  by  the  man  of  law,  and  Sir 
William  Follett  had  at  all  points  the  mastery  over 
Dr.  Buckland.  '  What  do  you  say,  Mr.  Stephen- 
son  ?  '  asked  Sir  Robert,  laughing.  '  Why,'  said 
he,  'I  will  only  say  this,  that,  of  all  the  powers 
above  and  under  the  earth,  there  seems  to  me  to 
'be  no  power  so  great  as  the  gift  of  the  gab.'  On 
another  occasion  a  highly  original  idea  was  struck 
out  by  Mr.  Stephenson  in  conversation  with  Dr. 
Buckland.  '  Now,  Buckland,'  said  he,  '  I  have  a 
poser  for  you  :  can  you  tell  me  what  is  the  power 


STEPIIEliSOX,    TIIE   HALLWAY   PIONEER.         43 

that  is  driving  that  train  ? '  '  Well,'  said  the 
other,  '  I  suppose  it  is  one  of  your  big  engines  ! ' 
4  But  what  drives  the  engine  ? '  '  Oh,  very 
likely  a  canny  Newcastle  driver.'  '  '  What  do  you 
say  to  the  light  of  the  sun  ? '  '  How  can  that 
be  ? '  '  It  is  nothing  else,'  said  the  engineer ;  '  it 
is  light  bottled  up  in  the  earth  for  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  years — light  absorbed  by  plants  and 
vegetables,  being  necessary  for  the  condensation 
of  carbon  during  the  process  of  their  growth,  if  it 
be  not  carbon  in  another  form;  and  now,  after 
being  buried  in  the  earth  for  long  ages  in  fields  of 
coal,  that  latent  light  is  again  brought  forth  and 
liberated,  made  to  work,  as  in  that  locomotive,  for 
great  human  purposes.'  "  Such  an  idea  was  more 
an  immediate  intuition  of  genius,  than  the  result 
of  methodical  reasoning. 

Sir  Robert  Peel  made  Stephenson  the  offer  of 
knighthood  more  than  once,  but  he  steadily  re- 
fused. He  was  not  the  creature  of  patronage, 
and  he  did  not  wish  to  shine  with  borrowed  lustre. 
He  gave  a  characteristic  reply  to  a  request  that 
he  would  state  what  were  his  "  ornamental  initials," 
in  order  that  they  might  be  added  to  his  name  in 
the  title  of  a  work  proposed  to  be  dedicated  to 
him :  "  I  have  to  state,  that  I  have  no  flourishes 
to  my  name,  either  before  or  after ;  and  I  think 
it  will  be  as  well  if  you  merely  say  '  George  Ste- 
phenson.' It  is  true  that  I  am  a  Belgian  knight ; 
but  I  do  not  wish  to  have  any  use  made  of  it.  I 
have  had  the  honor  of  knighthood  cf  my  own 


44  MEN    WHO    HAVE    HISEN. 

country  made  to  me  several  times,  but  would  not 
Lave  it.  I  have  been  invited  to  become  a  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  Society,  and  also  of  the  Civil  En- 
gineers' Society,  but  objected  to  the  empty  addi- 
tion to  my  name.  I  am  a  member  of  the  Geolog- 
ical Society,  and  I  have  consented  to  become 
president  of,  I  believe,  a  highly  respectable  Me- 
chanics' Institution  at  Birmingham."  He  wished 
to  join  the  Civil  Engineers'  Institute ;  but  the 
council  would  not  waive  the  condition  that  he 
should  compose  a  probationary  essay  in  proof  of 
his  capacity  as  an  engineer!  Mr.  Stephenson 
would  not  stoop  to  enter,  and  turned  his  back 
upon  the  Institute. 

In  July,  1848,  though  suffering  from  nervous 
affection,  he  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Birming- 
ham Institute,  and  read  a  paper  to  the  members 
"  On  the  Fallacies  of  the  Rotary  Engine."  It 
was  his  last  appearance  in  public.  A  sudden 
effusion  of  blood  from  the  lungs,  which  followed 
an  attack  of  intermittent  fever,  carried  him  off,  on 
the  12th  of  August,  1848,  in  the  sixty-seventh 
year  of  his  age.  The  death-pallor  lay  upon  that 
countenance,  once  so  ruddy  and  glowing  with 
health ;  the  keen  gray  eye  looked  no  longer  upon 
the  common  light  of  day ;  the  brain  within  that 
massive  forehead  throbbed  no  more.  A  large 
body  of  his  workpeople,  by  whom  he  was  as  much 
beloved  as  admired,  followed  his  remains  to  the 
grave.  He  was  interred  in  Trinity  Church, 
Chesterfield,  where  a  simple  tablet  marks  his 


THE   RAILWAY   PIOKEEK.         45 

resting-place.  A  chaste  and  elegant  statue  of  the 
great  engineer,  produced  by  Mr.  Gibson  of  Rome, 
was  placed  in  the  magnificent  St.  George's  Hall, 
Liverpool.  To  him,  more  than  any  other  man  of 
this  century,  the  commercial  metropolis  of  England 
owed  a  debt  of  gratitude  and  a  tribute  of  respect. 
Such  is  a  rapid  review  of  the  leading  events 
in  the  life  of  George  Stephenson — a  life  pregnant 
with  valuable  lessons  and  large  results.  He  had 
a,  work  to  do  in  this  world,  and  he  performed  his 
duty  ;  he  fulfilled  his  mission  with  manliness,  with 
energy,  and  with  success.  It  is  impossible  as  yet 
correctly  to  estimate  the  greatness  of  the  impulse 
he  has  given  to  civilization,  or  to  weigh  in  the 
balance  the  mighty  advantages,  commercial,  social, 
and  political,  which  he  has  conferred  upon  man- 
kind. Future  generations  will  be  better  able  to 
form  a  judgment  and  give  a  decision,  when  the 
system  he  originated  has  been  longer  in  existence, 
and  has  attained  a  fuller  development.  Great 
was  the  work  he  wrought,  but  still  greater  was 
the  workman.  We  cannot  but  wonder  that  one 
born  in  circumstances  so  humble,  and  laboring 
long  under  so  many  disadvantages,  should  have 
been  able  to  exemplify,  more  perhaps  than  any 
other  man,  the  masterdom  of  mind  over  matter. 
He  was  enabled,  through  sheer  force  of  intellect- 
and  never-failing  determination,  to  make  all  diffi- 
culties and  every  apparent  disadvantage  work 
together  for  good  both  to  himself  and  to  the  world. 
Under  the  stern  discipline  of  poverty  find  ncces 


4:6  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

sity,  he  early  grew  strong  in  self-reliance.  He  had 
the  desire  to  learn,  the  desire  to  advance,  and  that 
desire  was  accompanied  by  the  resolute  will  which 
commands  success.  He  never  thought  of  failure  ; 
he  never  dreamed  of  impossibilities  ;  he  fixed  the 
whole  strength  of  his  mind  upon  the  end  to  be 
gained,  and  the  means  to  be  applied.  By  patient, 
unwearied,  self-reliant  industry,  he  rose  from  ob- 
scurity to  world-wide  renown,  and  emphatically 
proved,  throughout  the  whole  course  of  his  labori 
ous  life,  that  perseverance  is  power.  By  word  as 
by  example,  he  strove  on  every  available  occasion 
to  enforce  this  important  truth.  On  one  of  his 
last  public  appearances,  he  told  the  mechanics  of 
Leeds  that  "  he  stood  before  them  but  as  a  hum- 
ble mechanic.  He  had  risen  from  a  lower  standing 
than  the  meanest  person  there  ;  and  all  that  he  had 
been  enabled  to  accomplish  in  the  course  of  his 
life  had  been  done  through  perseverance.  He  said 
this  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  youthful  me- 
chanics to  do  as  he  had  done — to  persevere."  It 
is  remarkable  that,  although  Stephenson  was  origin- 
ally endowed  with  a  strong  mind,  an  inquiring 
spirit,  and  great  constructive  skill,  he  attributed  to 
perseverance  ah1  his  success.  Any  man,  he  con- 
sidered, might  have  done  what  he  did  by  simple 
tenacity  of  purpose,  and  the  resolution  to  be  un- 
daunted by  difficulties.  He  never  plumed  himself 
upon  the  possession  of  superior  powers,  nor  Avas 
there  any  affectation  in  describing  himself  as  a 
humble  mechanic,  when  he  was  universally  recog- 


6TEPHENSOX,    THE   RAILWAY   riOJSTEEK.         47 

nized  as  the  greatest  engineer  of  the  day.  He  had 
all  the  manly  modesty,  the  unpretending,  uncon- 
scious greatness,  which  ever  characterize  true 
genius.  Social  elevation  did  not  destroy  his  nat- 
ural humility.  Popular  applause  he  estimated  at 
its  true  value.  His  personal  worth  imparted  new 
dignity  to  his  mechanical  eminence  ;  his  heart  was 
as  sound  as  his  head  ;  he  was  as  much  beloved  as 
he  was  admired.  George  Stephenson  was,  in  fine, 
a  genuine  Englishman — frank,  fearless,  heroic, 
vigorous  in  thought  and  energetic  in  action.  He 
has  left  behind  him  a  memorable  name,  and  his 
works  will  ever  be  his  noblest  monument. 


THE 

BEGINNING    OF    THE    EOTHSCHILDS. 

ON  the  approach  of  the  republican  army  to  the 
territories  of  the  Prince  of  Hesse  Cassel,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  French  revolutionary  wars,  his 
Serene  Highness — like  many  other  pretty  princes 
of  Germany — was  compelled  to  flee.  In  his  pass- 
age through  the  imperial  city  of  Frankfort-on-the 
Maine,  he  paid  a  hasty  visit  to  one  Moses  Roths- 
child, a  Jewish  banker  of  limited  means,  but  of 
good  repute  both  for  integrity-  and  ability  in  the 
management  of  his  business.  The  prince's  pur- 
pose in  visiting  Moses  was  to  request  him  to  take 
charge  of  a  large  sum  in  money  and  jewels, 
amounting  in  value  to  several  millions  of  thalers, 
a  coin  equal  to  seventy-five  cents  of  our  money.  The 
Jew  at  first  point  blank  refused  so  dangerous  a, 
charge  ;  but,  upon  being  earnestly  pressed  to  take 
it,  at  the  prince's  own  sole  risk — nay,  that  even  a 
receipt  should  not  be  required — he  at  length  con- 
sented. The  money  and  jewels  were  speedily  but 


THE    BEGINNING    OF   THE    ROTHSCHILDS.         49 

privately  conveyed  from  the  prince's  treasury  to 
the  Jew's  residence ;  and,  just  as  the  advanced 
corps  of  the  French  army  had  entered  through  the 
gates  of  Frankfort,  Moses  had  succeeded  in  bury- 
ing it  in  a  corner  of  his  garden.  He,  of  course, 
received  a  visit  from  the  republicans  ;  but,  true  to 
his  trust,  he  hit  upon  the  following  means  of  sav- 
ing the  treasure  of  the  fugitive  prince,  who  had 
placed  such  implicit  confidence  in  his  honor.  He 
did  not  attempt  to  conceal  any  of  his  own  property 
(the  whole  of  his  cash  and  stock  consisting  of  only 
40,000  thalers,  or  about  $30,000),  but,  after  the 
necessary  remonstrances  and  grumbling  with  his 
unwelcome  visitors,  and  a  threat  or  two  that  he 
should  report  them  to  the  General-in-Chief — from 
whom  he  had  no  doubt  of  obtaining  redress — he 
suffered  them  to  carry  it  all  off. 

As  soon  as  the  republicans  had  evacuated  the 
city,  Moses  Rothschild  resumed  his  business  as 
banker  and  money-changer  ;  at  first,  indeed  in  an 
humble  way,  but  daily  increasing  and  extending 
it  by  the  aid  of  the  Prince  of  Hesse  Cassel's  money. 
In  the  course  of  a  comparatively  short  space  of 
time,  he  was  considered  the  most  stable  and  opu- 
lent banker  in  all  Germany. 

In  the  year  1802,  the  prince,  returning  to  his 
dominions,  visited  Frankfort  in  his  route.  He  was 
almost  afraid  to  call  on  his  Jewish  banker ;  appre- 
hending that  if  the  French  had  left  anything,  the 
honesty  of  Moses  had  not  been  proof  against  so 
strong  a  temptation  as  he  had  been  compelled  from 
4 


50  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

dire  necessity  to  put  in  his  way.  On  being  intro- 
duced into  Rothschild's  sanctum,  he,  in  a  tone  of 
despairing  carelessness,  said,  "  I  have  called  on  you, 
Moses,  as  a  matter  of  course ;  but  I  fear  the  result. 
Did  the  rascals  take  all  ?  " 

"  Not  a  thaler,"  replied  the  Jew,  gravely. 

"  What  say  you  ? "  returned  his  Highness. 
"  Not  a  thaler  !  Why,  I  was  informed  that  the 
Sans-culottes  had  emptied  all  your  coffers  and  made 
you  a  beggar  :  I  even  read  so  in  the  gazettes." 

"  Why,  so  they  did,  may  it  please  your  Serene 
Highness,"  replied  Moses ;  "but  I  was  too  cunning 
for  them.  By  letting  them  take  my  own  little 
stock,  I  saved  your  great  one.  I  knew  that  as  I 
was  reputed  wealthy,  although  by  no  means  so,  if 
I  should  remove  any  of  my  own  gold  and  silver 
from  their  appropriate  bags  and  coffers,  the  rob- 
bers would  be  sure  to  search  for  it :  and  in  doino- 

£5 

so,  would  not  forget  to  dig  in  the  garden ;  it  is 
wonderful  what  a  keen  scent  these  fellows  have 
got !  they  actually  poured  buckets  of  water  over 
some  of  my  neighbors'  kitchen  and  cellar  floors,  in 
order  to  discover,  by  the  rapid  sinking  of  the  fluid, 
whether  the  tiles  and  earth  had  been  recently  dug 
up !  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I  buried  your  treasure 
in  the  garden;  and  it  remained  untouched  until 
the  robbers  left  Frankfort,  to  go  in  search  of  plun 
der  elsewhere.  Now,  then,  to  the  point :  as  the 
jSans-culottcs  left  me  not  a  kreutzer  to  carry  on 
my  business ;  as  several  good  opportunities  offered 
of  making  a  very  handsome  profit ;  and  as  I  thought 


THE   BEGINNING   OF   THE   KOTHSCHILDS.         51 

it  a  pity  that  so  much  good  money  should  lie  idle, 
whilst  the  merchants  were  both  ready  and  willing 
to  give  large  interest ;  the  temptation  of  convert- 
ing your  Highness's  florins  to  present  use  haunted 
my  thoughts  by  day  and  my  dreams  by  night. 
Not  to  detain  your  Highness  with  a  long  story,  I 
dug  up  the  treasure,  and  deposited  your  jewels  in 
a  strong  box,  from  which  they  have  never  since 
been  moved ;  I  employed  your  gold  and  silver  in 
my  business ;  my  speculations  were  profitable  ;  and 
I  am  now  able  to  restore  your  deposit,  with  five 
per  cent,  interest  since  the  day  on  which  you  left 
it  under  my  care." 

"  I  thank  you  heartily,  my  good  friend,"  said 
his  Highness,  "  for  the  great  care  you  have  taken 
and  the  sacrifices  you  have  made.  As  to  the  in- 
terest of  five  per  cent.,  let  that  replace  the  sum 
which  the  French  took  from  you ;  I  beg  you  will 
add  to  it  whatever  other  profits  you  may  have 
made.  As  a  reward  for  your  singular  honesty,  I 
shall  still  leave  my  cash  in  your  hands  for  twenty 
years  longer,  at  a  low  rate  of  two  per  cent,  interest 
per  annum,  the  same  being  more  as  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  deposit,  in  case  of  the  death  of  either 
of  us,  than  with  a  view  of  making  a  profit  by  you. 
I  trust  that  this  will  enable  you  to  use  my  florins 
with  advantage  in  any  way  which  may  appear 
most  beneficial  to  your  own  interests." 

The  prince  and  his  banker  parted,  well  satisfied 
with  each  other.  Nor  did  the  gratitude  and  good 
will  of  his  Serene  Highness  stop  there — on  every 


OSS  MEN    WHO    HAVE 

occasion  in  whicli  he  could  serve  his  interests  he 
did  so,  by  procuring  for  him,  from  the  princes  of 
Germany,  many  facilities  both  for  international 
and  foreign  negociation.  At  the  congress  of  sove- 
reigns, which  met  at  Vienna  in  1814,  he  did  not 
fail  to  represent  the  fidelity  of  Moses  Rothschild, 
and  procured  for  him,  thereby,  from  the  Emperors 
of  Russia,  Austria,  and  the  other  European  poten- 
tates, as  well  as  from  the  French,  English,  and 
other  ministers,  promises  that  in  case  of  loans  be- 
ing required  by  their  respective  governments,  the 
"  Honest  Jew  of  Frankfort  "  should  have  th^  pre- 
ference in  their  negociation.  Nor  were  these  prom- 
ises "  more  honored  in  the  breach  than  in  the  ob- 
servance," as  those  of  princes  and  courtiers  are 
proverbially  said  to  be.  A  loan  of  200  millions  of 
francs  being  required  by  the  French  government 
to  pay  the  Allied  Powers  for  the  expenses  they  had 
been  put  to  in  the  restoration  of  the  Bourbons,  one 
of  old  Rothschild's  sons,  then  residing  at  Paris, 
was  intrusted  with  its  management.  The  same 
was  accordingly  taken  at  67  per  cent.,  and  sold  to 
the  public  in  a  very  few  days  at  93  !  thereby  yield- 
ing an  immense  profit  to  the  contractor.  Other 
loans  followed  to  various  powers,  all  of  which  turn- 
ed out  equal  to  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of 
this  lucky  family,  who  are  now  in  possession  of 
such  immense  wealth,  that  it  is  supposed  they 
could  at  will  change  the  destinies  of  the  nations  of 
Europe. 


THE   KISE  OF  THE   PEEL   FAMILY. 

ABOUT  a  week  before  Whitsuntide,  in  the  year 
1765,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  line  of 
Manchester  bell-horses  (nineteen  in  number), 
loaded  with  packs  and  attended  by  chapmen, 
were  seen  by  the  weavers  of  Irwell  Green,  de- 
scending from  the  moors  by  the  bridle-road  into 
that  hamlet.  The  weavers  (thirty  in  number, 
or  thereabout)  stopped  their  looms,  and  went 
forth  to  ask  questions  about  trade,  wages,  prices, 
politics ;  Lord  Bute,  Grenville,  William  Pitt  (the 
elder),  and  young  King  George  III. ;  and  to  in- 
quire if  there  were  a  likelihood  of  the  young  king 
doing  anything  for  the  good  of  trade. 

The  spinning  women  had  come  forth  also  from 
their  spinning-wheels,  and,  in  reference  to  them, 
Mr.  William  Garland,  a  merchant  (locally  called 
a  Manchester  warehouseman),  who  had  accom- 
panied his  pack-horses  thus  far  to  make  some  ar- 
rangements with  the  resident  weavers  of  this 
hamlet,  said,  "  If  the  young  king  would  make  the 


MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

lasses  spin  more,  he  would  do  some  good."  "  Or," 
said  a  weaver,  "  an  t'  king  would  make  a  spinning- 
wheel  to  spin  two  threads  instead  of  one,  it  would 
be  some  good."  "  Nonsense,"  replied  another;  "  no 
man  can  make  a  wheel  to  spin  two  threads  at  once ; 
no,  not  even  King  George  upon  the  throne." 

The  chapmen  having  baited  their  horses,  pro- 
ceeded on  their  journey  towards  Blackburn,  which 
they  hoped  to  reach  early  in  the  afternoon.  When 
they  were  gone,  the  children  of  Irwell  Green 
ranged  themselves  in  a  troop  across  the  stony 
causeway,  hand  in  hand,  and  sang, 

"Bell-horses,  bell-horses,  what  time  o1  day? 
One  o'clock,  two  o'clock,  three,  and  away !  " 

At  the  word  "  away,"  they  raised  a  shout,  ran 
down  the  causeway,  their  wooden-soJed  clogs 
clattering  on  the  stones  as  loudly  as  all  the 
shuttles  of  Irwell  Green.  About  two  in  the  after- 
noon, the  bell-horses  reached  Blackburn. 

If  the  reader  should  ever  visit  Blackburn — wind- 
ing through  the  vales  by  the  turnpike  road,  or,  on 
the  railway,  through  tunnels,  over  ravines,  along 
the  mountain-sides — he  will  find  it  a  town  contain- 
ing fifty  thousand  people,  or  thereabout,  with 
narrow,  crooked  streets,  situated  on  undulating 
ground.  It  is  surrounded  by  hills ;  and  a  rivulet, 
a  canal,  a  railway,  and  several  thoroughfares  run 
through  it.  The  whole  town  of  gray  stone  houses, 
with  stone  roofs,  and  the  country  of  green  pastures 
rising  around,  are  less  changed  for  better  or  worse 


THE  RISE  OF  THE  PEEL  FAMILY.       55 

than  any  other  town  and  neighborhood  which  ex- 
isted in  the  middle  of  last  century  in  Lancashire. 
This  has  resulted  from  the  early  and  long  sustained 
resistance  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  mechanical  in- 
ventions which  had  their  origin  in  that  vicinity. 

Being  a  stranger  in  Blackburn,  you  will  doubt- 
less visit  Stanehill  Moor  and  Peel  Fold — the  one 
the  birth-place  of  the  spinning-jenny,  and  of  James 
Ilargreav  es,  its  inventor ;  the  other,  of  the  Peels ; 
and,  though  not  the  birth-place  of  the  art  of  print- 
ing calico,  nor,  perhaps  its  cradle,  yet  certainly  its 
infant-school. 

If  you  leave  the  town  by  yonder  windmill  on  the 
rising  ground,  your  face  northeast,  and,  where  the 
road  divides,  take  that  branch  going  due  east,  you 
will,  having  proceeded  about  two  and  a  half  miles, 
turn  to  your  right  hand,  and  face  southward.  As 
you  approach  the  village  of  Knuzden  Brook,  lift 
your  eyes  towards  the  plantation  which  runs  from 
west  to  east,  and  crowns  that  green  upland.  Be- 
hind that  plantation  lies  Stanehill  Moor,  in  one  of 
the  houses  of  which  the  spinning-jenny  was  in- 
vented ;  and  that  farm-house  —  with  cowsheds, 
barn,  and  iuclosure  walls,  all  built  of  gray  stone 
raid  roofed  with  the  same — is  Peel  Fold.  Forty 
acres  of  that  cold,  wet  pasture  land,  with  these 
buildings,  formed  the  inheritance  of  the  Peels. 

With  this  view  and  knowledge  of  the  estate,  it 
will  not  surprise  you  to  be  told  that  the  Robert 
Peel  born  in  1714,  who  married  Elizabeth  How- 
arth  of  Walmsley  Fold,  in  1744,  and  had  a  family 


56  MEN   WHO   HATE   RISEN. 

of  five  sons  and  a  daughter  in  1755,  was  not,  as 
some  heraldic  writers  have  written,  a  "  yeoman, 
living  on  and  cultivating  his  own  estate."  He  did 
not  cultivate  it  at  all,  except  a  garden  for  pot- 
herbs ;  nor  did  he  live  on  it  in  the  sense  indicated. 
He  was  a  "  yeoman,"  it  is  true,  and  sold  the  milk 
and  butter  of  four  or  five  cows  in  Blackburn ;  but 
he  was  a  weaver  also,  and  was  too  shrewd  a  man 
of  the  world  not  to  educate  his  sons  to  industrial 
pursuits  of  a  like  kind.  They,  too,  were  weavers. 
In  yonder  house,  to  which  our  footsteps  now  tend, 
were  at  least  two  looms  in  1765.  His  children 
were,  William,  born  1745;  Edmund,  born  1748; 
Robert,  born  April  25, 1750  (whose  son,  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  the  eminent  statesman,  died  one  hundred 
years  afterwards,  July  2,  1850);  Jonathan,  born 
1752;  Anne,  born  1753;  Lawrence,  born  1755; 
some  others  who  died  in  infancy ;  Joseph,  bora 
1766;  and  John,  whose  birth  occurred  after  the 
family  were  driven  out  of  Lancashire  by  the  in- 
surgent spinning  women,  probably  at  Burton-on- 
Trent,  Staffordshire. 

Here  it  may  be  as  well  to  remark,  that,  though 
the  tradition  which  the  reader  is  about  to  know 
is  shaped  somewhat  like  a  story,  we  have  not 
dared,  for  the  sake  of  a  story,  to  falsify  incidents 
so  truly  national  and  historical,  though  so  little 
known.  The  incidents  and  domestic  economy  of 
Peel  Fold  about  to  be  described  are  such  as  old 
people,  with  whom  we  became  acquainted  a  few 
yeais  ago,  related.  We  have  conversed  with  per- 


THE   KISE   OF   THE   PEEL   FAMILY.  57 

sons  who  had  seen  the  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Peel 
now  under  notice  ;  who  had  also  seen  James  Har- 
greaves,  inventor  of  the  spinning-jenny ;  and  the 
fathers  and  mothers  of  these  aged  persons  were 
the  neighbors  of  Robert  Peel  and  James  Har 
greaves,  and  had  often  spoken  of  them  to  their 
sons  and  daughters. 

Some  tune  in  the  year  1764,  one  of  the  boys  at 
Peel  Fold,  in  weaving  a  piece  of  cloth  of  linen  and 
cotton  mixture,  spoiled  it  for  the  Blackburn  cloth 
market.  It  was  taken  to  Bamber  Bridge,  near 
Preston,  to  be  printed  for  kerchiefs,  there  being  a 
small  print-work  at  that  place,  the  only  one  in 
Lancashire,  and,  except  at  Cray,  near  London,  the 
only  one  in  England.  The  real  object  of  Robert 
Peel,  in  taking  this  piece  of  cloth  to  be  printed, 
was  alleged,  however,  to  be  a  desire  to  see  the 
process.  In  this  he  was  disappointed ;  the  works 
were  kept  secret.  Such  being  the  case,  he  induced 
Mr.  Harry  Garland,  son  of  the  Manchester  ware- 
houseman, to  take  note  of  the  Cray  print-works 
Avhen  he  next  went  to  London  with  his  father's 
pack-horses,  and  if  possible  to  procure  some  of  the 
patterns,  colors,  gums,  and  printing-blocks.  The 
first  visit  of  Harry  Garland  to  Blackburn,  after  at- 
tending to  this  business,  was  on  that  day  near 
Whitsuntide,  1765.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day 
(we  were  told  it  was  so,  but  it  might  have  been  on 
another  day),  James  Hargreaves  was  "  at  play,"  as 
the  weavers  termed  it,  for  want  of  weft.  His 
wife  had  given  birth  to  an  infant,  and  was  still  in 


58  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN". 

bed,  and  could  not  spin.  The  spinning  women 
were  all  too  well  employed  to  give  him  weft,  ex- 
cept as  a  very  great  favor,  though  highly  paid ; 
and,  now  that  he  was  a  married  man,  favors  were 
not  so  readily  obtained.  Besides,  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  his  wife  could  spin  more  weft  than 
most  other  women.  She  was  such  an  extraordinary 
spinner  for  diligence  and  speed,  that  people  called 
her  "  Spinning  Jenny." 

James  at  last  determined  to  step  across  "  the 
waste "  and  the  stone  quarry  to  Peel  Fold,  and 
borrow  weft.  Neighbor  Peel  he  knew  to  be  a 
careful  man  :  doubtless  he  would  have  enough  for 
the  lads  (Edmund,  Robert,  and  Jonathan,  who 
were  on  the  loom — William  was  otherwise  em- 
ployed), and  might  have  some  to  spare.  True, 
he  was  a  shade  beyond  being  careful — he  was 
narrow;  but  James  Hargreaves  had  taught  the 
boys  how  to  use  the  fly-shuttle — a  recent  inven- 
tion of  the  Brothers  Kay  of  Bury.  He  hoped, 
therefore,  they  would  not  refuse  a  loan  of  some 
weft.* 

James  reasoned  rightly.  He  was  accommodated 
with  weft,  and  invited  to  partake  of  their  frugal 
supper.  Had  you  been  present  while  the  rustic 
mess  was  preparing,  and  Hargreaves  was  em- 
ployed in  sorting  out  and  counting  the  copes  of 
weft,  you  would  have  observed  that  the  kitchen 

*  The  weft  of   a  web   is  the    cross    threads  wound  into  copes  or 
pirns,"    and   placed    in  the    shuttle ;    the  warp    is  the   longitudinal 
threads. 


THE  RISE  OF  THE  PEEL  FAMILY.      59 

in  which  you  sat  was  large  enough  to  hold  two 
looms,  a  carding  stock,  a  reel,  and  other  imple- 
ments of  in-door  and  out-door  labor,  with  space 
still  unoccupied.  You  would  have  seen  the  reeds 
and  headles  to  be  used  in  the  looms  when  required, 
hanging  from  the  joists  ;  the  oatmeal  jannock  (the 
common  bread  in  Lincolnshire  in  those  days), 
hanging  over  spars,  like  leather  ;  bundles  of  yarn ; 
bacon,  for  family  use  and  for  sale  ;  some  books,  of 
which  one  was  the  Holy  Bible,  covered  with  un- 
tanned  calf-skin,  tjie  hair  outside — a  part  of  the 
same  skin  whish  Robert  Peel  wore  for  a  waist- 
coat. You  would  have  seen  that  he  wore  a  coat 
of  homespun  wool,  undyed ;  breeches  of  the  same, 
tied  at  the  knee  with  leather  thongs  ;  an  apron  of 
flannel ;  stockings  made  of  the  undyed  wool  of  a 
black  and  a  white  sheep,  mixed;  clogs,  made  of 
leather  above,  and  wood  and  iron  below ;  a  brown 
felt  hat,  once  black,  turned  up  behind  and  at  the 
sides,  and  pointed  before.  His  sons  were  dressed 
in  the  same  manner,  except  that  they  had  buckles 
at  their  knees  instead  of  leather  thongs,  and  waist- 
coats of  stuff  like  their  mother's  linsey-woolsey 
gown,  instead  of  call-skin.  You  would  have  seen 
and  heard  that  Mrs.  Peel  trod  the  same  floor  in 
wooden-soled  clogs,  while  the  clat-clatting  of 
little  Anne  gave  the  same  intimation.  On  seeing 
the  family  seated  around  the  table  uncovered,  you 
would  have  observed,  by  their  golden-tinged  hair, 
short  and  curly,  that  they  still  retained  the  Scan- 
dinavian temperament  of  their  Danish  ancestors, 


60  MEN    WHO    HATE    EISEK. 

who,  as  rovers  of  the  sea,  are  supposed  to  have 
brought  the  lineage  and  name  of  Peel  to  England. 
Their  neighbor  Hargreaves,  you  would  have 
seen,  was  a  short,  broadly  formed  man,  with  hard 
black  hair.  He  did  not  stand  above  five  feet  live ; 
Robert  Peel  stood  five  feet  eleven  inches,  rather 
more. 

Being  seated,  and  seeing  his  wife  sit  down,  he 
said,  "  'Lizabeth,  are  you  ready  ?  "  to  which  she, 
having  put  a  portion  of  the  supper  on  a  platter, 
to  cool  for  the  younger  children,  and  lifted  her 
finger  in  sign  of  admonition  to  be  silent  and  still, 
answered,  "  Say  away,  Robert,"  and  bowed  her 
head.  The  father  looked  around,  and,  seeing  that 
his  children  had  bent  their  heads  and  were  still, 
bowed  his  own,  and  addressed  himself  to  the  Most 
High.  He  besought  a  blessing  on  their  food,  on 
all  their  actions,  on  all  their  varied  ways  through 
life,  and  for  mercy  to  their  manifold  sins.  To 
which  they  all  said,  "  Amen." 

Soon  after,  William,  the  eldest  son,  came  in 
from  Blackburn.  He  said  Harry  Garland  and 
other  chapmen  had  come  as  far  as  the  Pack 
Horse,  at  the  Brook,  but  had  gone  in  there,  and 
he  thought  Garland  was  not  much  short  of  tipsy ; 
they  had  been  drinking  at  the  Black  Bull  in 
Blackburn  before  starting.  Saying  which,  he 
asked,  "  Mother,  is  there  no  supper  for  me  ?  " 
She  replied,  "  In  t'  oven ;  in  t'  dish ;  dinnot  fear 
but  thy  share  were  set  by  for  thee." 

Presently  the  dogs,  Brock  and  Flowery,  began 


THE  BISE  OF  THE  PEEL  FAMILY.       61 

to  bark,  and  the  sound  told  they  were  running  up 
the  path  toward  the  plantation.  This  indicated 
the  approach  of  a  stranger.  Anne  and  little  Law- 
rence ran,  spoons  in  hand,  their  clogs  clattering  on 
the  stones,  and  returned  in  fright,  saying  it  was  a 
man  who  wore  a  red  coat,  and  with  a  sword  in  his 
hand ;  and  he  was  like  to  cut  off  the  heads  of 
Brock  and  Flowery  with  it  for  barking  at  him ; 
upon  which  William  observed,  he  dared  say  it  was 
Harry  Garland.  Robert,  the  third  son,  laid  down 
his  spoon,  saying  he  would  call  in  the  dogs ;  but 
his  father  bade  him  stay  ;  he  would  go  himself,  and 
went.  It  was  Harry  Garland.  Mr.  Peel,  desiring 
to  speak  with  him  privately  about  the  printing  at 
Cray,  took  him  into  another  apartment.  They  re- 
mained there  more  than  an  hour.  The  girl  and 
the  youngest  boy  looked  through  the  keyhole,  and, 
returning  to  the  kitchen,  said  the  stranger  was 
showing  father  such  beautiful  paper,  and  such  a 
curious  piece  of  wood,  and  such  lovely  things.  But 
their  mother  interrupted  them,  saying,  "Howd 
thee  tongue,  and  sit  thee  down."  James  Har- 
greaves,  thinking,  correctly  enough,  that  his  pres- 
ence stood  in  the  way  of  some  private  business, 
took  the  copes  of  weft  in  his  apron,  and  went  home. 
Presently  the  private  conference  was  at  an  end, 
and  the  visitor,  with  Mr.  Peel,  went  to  the 
kitchen. 

Harry  Garland  was  a  handsome  young  man,  in 
his  twentieth  year.  He  had  dark  brown  hair, 
tied  behind  with  blue  ribbon ;  clear,  mirthful 


62  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

eyes;  boots  which  reached  above  his  knees;  a 
broad-skirted  scarlet  coat,  with  gold  lace  on  the 
cuffs,  the  collar  and  the  skirts,  and  a  long  waist- 
coat of  blue  silk.  His  breeches  were  buckskin ; 
his  hat  was  three-cornered,  set  jauntily  higher  on 
the  right  than  on  the  left  side.  In  his  breast- 
pockets he  carried  loaded  pistols,  and,  dangling 
from  his  waistbelt,  a  short,  heavy  sword,  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  cut  the  branches  from  a  tree,  or 
kill  a  highwayman.  He  thus  appeared,  on  or- 
dinary days,  in  the  dress  and  accoutrements 
which  a  Manchester  chapman  only  wore  on  holi- 
days, or  at  a  wedding,  or  at  church.  Mr.  Peel 
had  invited  him,  when  in  the  private  apartment, 
to  stay  all  night ;  but  no,  he  must  be  in  Black- 
burn, he  said,  to  go  early  in  the  morning  to 
Preston.  Besides,  he  had  friends  at  the  Pack 
Horse,  down  at  the  Brook,  awaiting  his  return. 
Would  William,  Edmund,  and  Robert  step  that 
length  with  him?  Their  father,  answering,  said, 
"  No,  they  cannot  go  out."  They  inclined  to  go ; 
the  smart  dress  of  the  handsome  Harry  Garland, 
his  lively  conversation,  his  knowledge  of  the  social 
and  commercial  world,  so  far  exceeding  theirs,  in- 
clined them  to  his  company.  But  their  father  had 
said  "  No."  They  said  nothing. 

Robert  Peel  had  work  for  himself  and  his  sons 
which  required  to  be  done  that  night.  He  accord- 
ingly called  them  together,  and  said  it  was  not  so 
much  that  he  objected  to  their  being  with  Gar- 
land, though  doubtless  they  might  find  more  pro- 


THE   RISE   OF   THE   PEEL   FAMILY.  63 

fitable  company,  as  truly  as  they  might  find 
worse;  but  he  had  objected  to  their  going  out 
because  there  was  work  to  do.  "Seest  thou  a 
man  diligent  in  his  business,"  he  quoted,  "he 
shall  stand  before  kings."  He  then  told  them  to 
get  the  hand-barrow,  the  sledge-hammer,  the  iron 
wedges,  the  pinch  (an  iron  lever),  the  two  crow- 
bars, and  the  pick,  and  that  perhaps  they  might 
also  require  the  spade.  They  put  the  wedges, 
hammer,  and  pick  on  the  barrow,  and  Anne  and 
Lawrence  on  the  top  of  them.  William  and  Ed- 
mund took  their  places  upon  the  shafts ;  their 
father  went  on  before  with  the  spade  under  his 
arm,  Robert  with  him,  walking  sturdily  with  the 
iron  lever  on  his  shoulder.  It  was  a  clear  moon- 
light night.  When  they  came  to  the  quarry,  they 
removed  some  surface  earth  and  rubbish,  and,  hav- 
ing laid  bare  a  stratum  of  rock  likely  to  split  into 
slabs,  they  began  to  use  the  pick.  They  marked 
a  surface  of  solid  stone  five  feet  long  and  twenty 
inches  wide,  or  thereabout.  They  made  a  series  of 
incisions  along  the  line,  about  five  inches  apart, 
into  which  they  set  the  iron  wedges.  After  tapping 
them  gently,  to  make  their  points  lay  hold,  Mr. 
Peel,  who  was  the  steadiest  hand  at  the  large 
hammer,  swung  it  round  his  head,  and  gave  each 
of  the  wedges  a  blow  in  turn,  until  the  block  was 
rent  from  the  mass,  as  desired.  The  points  of  the 
pick  and  lever  were  then  inserted  in  the  rent. 
The  crowbars,  unfortunately,  were  found  to  be 
short  and  powerless.  The  father  and  two  of  tho 


64  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

sons  laid  all  their  weight  and  strength  on  the  long 
pinch;  another  worked  the  pick  as  a  lever,  and 
poised  the  block  outward  and  upward.  Jonathan 
had  a  small  hard  stone  ready,  and  Anne  another 
a  little  larger.  The  smallest  was  dropped,  as  di- 
rected, into  the  opening.  Then  they  let  go  with 
the  levers,  and  took  a  deeper  hold,  the  small  hard 
stone  keeping  the  block  from  subsiding  to  its 
place.  Having  got  a  deeper  hold,  they  gave  their 
united  weight  and  strength  to  the  leverage  again, 
and  the  opening  being  wider,  Anne  dropped  in 
the  larger  of  the  hard  stones.  Again  they  let  the 
block  rest,  and,  getting  a  still  deeper  hold,  they 
poised  it  upward  and  outward  further,  and  Jona- 
than, having  got  a  larger  hard  stone,  dropped  it 
in.  By  two  other  holds  and  rests,  conducted  in 
like  manner,  they  overturned  the  block,  two-and- 
twenty  inches  thick,  or  thereabout,  to  its  side. 
On  examining  it  all  round,  and  detecting  no  break 
nor  flaw,  they  estimated  that,  could  they  split  ifc 
into  four  equal  slabs  of  five  and  a  half  inches  thick, 
they  would  have  as  many  stone  tables  as  were  re- 
quired. To  split  the  block  into  four  slabs,  it  was 
necessary  to  make  three  rows  of  incisions  with  the 
pick,  into  which  to  introduce  the  wedges.  This 
was  done,  and  the  slabs  being  split,  were  dressed 
a  little  at  the  ends  and  sides.  Turning  one  of 
them  on  edge,  they  placed  the  hand-barrow  on 
edge  beside  it,  and  brought  barrow  and  stone 
down,  the  stone  uppermost,  as  desired.  Turning 
it  cross  ways,  that  its  ends  should  project  to  the 


THE   RISE    OF   THE    PEEL   FAMILY.  65 

sides,  and  enable  one  at  each  end  to  attach  his 
sustaining  strength,  Robert  and  Edmund  were  al- 
lotted to  that  duty.  Their  father  and  William,  as 
the  stronger  of  the  four,  took  their  places  between 
the  shafts — the  father  behind,  William  before. 
They  got  it  out  of  the  quarry  by  the  exercise  o* 
sheer  strength.  But  to  get  it  over  the  steps 
going  out  of  the  waste  into  the  plantation,  re- 
quired skill  and  caution,  as  well  as  strength.  It 
was  both  difficult  and  dangerous.  Nor  were  they 
clear  of  danger  going  down  the  path  which  led 
athwart  the  slope.  Their  feet  had  a  tendency  to 
slip,  and  the  stone  naturally  slid  to  the  lowest 
side ;  but  the  youth  who  had  charge  of  that  end 
kept  it  up  manfully.  Without  hurt  or  mishap, 
they  got  it  to  the  kitchen  door.  So,  in  due  time, 
they  got  the  other  three ;  but,  before  they  were 
done,  the  perspiration  was  dripping  from  all  the 
four.  They  sat  down  to  rest  and  wipe  their  warm 
faces,  and  found  the  time  was  an  hour  past  midnight. 
There  was  not  space  for  them  all  to  work  in  the 
small  back  room  at  laying  the  slabs.  The  father 
and  the  two  elder  sons  laid  them  at  the  proper 
height  for  working  upon  with  printing  blocks,  as 
described  by  Harry  Garland.  In  that  room  they 
remain  at  this  day,  as  then  laid  down.  In  that 
room  the  visitor  still  sees  those  slabs  of  stone  upon 
which  the  Peels  made  their  first  essays  in  printing 
calicoes — upon  which  they  took  tne  first  step  to- 
wards that  wonderful  fortune  of  wealth  and  fame 
which  then  lay  before  them  unknown. 
5 


66  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEJST. 

Though  the  hour  was  Lite,  young  Robert  Peel 
was  too  full  of  ideas  about  designs  for  the  blocks 
he  intended  to  carve  for  printing,  to  go  to  sleep. 
He  went  out  to  the  moor  in  the  moonlight,  to 
gather  a  handfull  of  bilberry  leaves,  or  other  foli- 
age, which  might  be  copied.  (The  first  thing 
printed  at  Peel  Fold  was  a  parsley  leaf.)  Going 
to  the  moor,  the  youth  had  to  pass  near  the  house 
of  James  Hargreaves.  He  saw  a  light  in  the  win- 
dow. Seeing  a  shadow  moving,  he  halted  for  a 
moment,  and  that  moment  revealed  enough  to  de- 
tain him  half  an  hour.  He  was  surprised,  not 
alone  to  see  the  weaver  up  at  that  hour,  but  to  see 
his  singular,  his  inexplicable  employment.  To 
comprehend  what  that  was,  let  us  return  to  Gar- 
land's departure  from  Peel  Fold,  as  told  before. 

When  Harry  had  crossed  the  waste,  he  met 
James  Hargreaves,  carrying  two  pails  of  water  for 
domestic  use,  and  asked  him  to  go  down  the  hill, 
and  drink  a  "  gill  of  ale  "  at  the  Horse.  James 
considered  a  minute,  set  down  his  pails,  twisted 
his  body,  rolled  one  shoulder  forward,  the  other 
back,  chipped  the  stones  of  the  road  with  his  iron- 
shod  clogs,  and  confessed  that  he  had  no  objection 
to  a  gill  of  ale  at  the  Horse,  were  it  not  that  he 
had  Jenny's  gruel  to  make.  But,  again,  there  was 
Kan  Pilkington  who  would  make  the  gruel.  Also, 
there  was  Charlotte  Marsden  at  the  Horse,  who 
was  always  at  her  wheel,  and  Alice,  her  sister,  who 
also  was  a  spinner  when  not  waiting  on  the  cus- 
tomers; perhaps  they  might  have  weft  ready 


THE   HISS   OF   THE    PEEL   FAMILY.  GT 

which  nobody  had  bespoke.  The  balance  of  rea- 
sons for  and  against  going  to  the  Horse  was  thus 
found  to  be  in  favor  of  going.  So,  taking  in  the 
water,  and  directing  Nan  Pilkington's  attention  to 
Jenny's  gruel,  he  called  on  Joe  Pilkington,  the 
singing  weaver,  and  both  went. 

They  joined  the  chapmen  from  Blackburn,  and 
were  soon  in  a  merry  mood.  Joe  Pilkington  was 
ready  with  a  song  at  any  time.  Perhaps  they 
would  have  sat  later  than  the  usually  sober  hours 
of  James  Hargreaves,  had  not  an  accident  oc- 
curred which  disconcerted  Garland,  and  suggested 
to  Hargreaves  to  go  home.  Harry  had  seated 
himself  beside  Charlotte  Marsden,  where  she  was 
spinning  at  the  further  end  of  the  spacious  kitchen. 
In  this  apartment  the  company  were  assembled. 
Some  who  knew  the  lofty  spirit  of  the  beautiful 
Charlotte,  offered  to  wager  with  Garland  that  he 
could  not  kiss  her.  The  forward  youth  attempted 
the  rash  act  without  hesitation ;  upon  which  she 
called  him  an  impudent  moth,  and,  rising  indig- 
nantly, overturned  her  spinning-wheel.  It  fell 
backward.  The  spindle,  which  before  had  been 
horizontal,  the  point  towards  the  maiden's  left 
hand,  stood  upright.  The  wheel,  which  had  been 
upright,  and  turned  by  her  right  hand  (its  band 
turning  the  spindle),  was  now  horizontal.  It  con- 
tinued to  revolve  in  that  position,  and  to  turn  the 
spindle.  In  a  moment,  a  thought — an  inspiration 
of  thought — fixed  the  eyes  of  Hargreaves  upon 
it.  Garland  pursued  the  indignant  Charlotte  out 


68  MEN    WHO    HATE   BISECT. 

of  the  apartment.  The  company  followed,  urging 
him  to  the  renewal  of  his  rudeness,  which,  the 
more  he  tried  to  succeed  in,  the  more  he  seemed 
to  be  baffled  and  humiliated.  In  their  absence, 
J.ames  Hargreaves  turned  the  wheel  with  his  right 
hand,  it  still  lying  as  it  fell,  and,  drawing  the  rov- 
ing of  cotton  with  his  left,  saw  that  the  spindle 
made  as  good  a  thread  standing  vertically  as  it 
had  done  horizontally.  "  Then  why,"  his  inspira- 
tion of  thought  suggested,  "  should  not  many 
spindles,  all  standing  upright,  all  moved  by  a  band 
crossing  them  from  the  wheel,  like  this  single 
spindle,  each  with  a  bobbin  on  it,  and  a  roving  of 
cotton  attached,  and  something  like  the  finger  and 
thumb,  which  now  take  hold  of  the  one  roving,  to 
lay  hold  of  them  all,  and  draw  them  backward 
from  the  spindles  into  attenuated  threads  ?  Why 
should  not  many  spindles  be  moved,  and  threads 
be  spun  by  the  same  wheel  and  band  which  now 
spin  only  one  ?  " 

Hearing  the  company  return,  James  Hargreaves 
lifted  the  wheel  to  its  feet,  placed  the  roving  in 
its  right  place,  and  said,  "  Sit  thee  down,  Char- 
lotte; let  him  see  thee  spin;  who  can  tell  what 
may  come  of  this ! "  Then,  after  a  pause,  and  a 
reflection  that  he  should  retain  his  new  ideas  as 
secrets  of  his  own  at  present,  he  continued :  "  Thou 
maybe  his  wife;  more  unlikely  things  have  hap- 
pened ;  it  will  be  a  fine  thing  to  be  lady  of  all  that 
owd  Billy  Garland  may  leave  some  day." 

"  Yf  ifb,  indeed ! "  interjected  the  vexed  maiden ; 


THE   RISE    OF   THE    PEEL   FAMILY.  G9 

"  the  moth !  "Wife,  indeed !  Who  would  be  wife 
to  it?" 

"  Weel,"  said  James,  "  be  that  as  it  may ;  but 
I  mun  go  whoam;  my  wife  thinks  whoam  the 
best  place  for  me,  and  I  think  so  mysen." 

Remarks  were  made  as  to  why  he  was  going  so 
soon.  But  Harry  Garland  had  lost  spirit  after 
the  conflict,  and  felt  the  scorn  of  the  maiden  more 
keenly  than  any  reproof  which  had  ever  fallen 
upon  his  impudence  before.  He  was  not  in  a 
humor  to  solicit  James  Hargreaves  to  remain  ;  so 
they  parted. 

James  had  reached  home  two  or  three  hours  be- 
fore young  Robert  Peel  observed  the  light  in  his 
window.  On  the  lad  approaching  the  window, 
the  weaver  was  standing  motionless.  Suddenly 
he  dropped  upon  his  knees,  and  rolled  on  the  stone 
floor  at  full  length.  He  lay  with  his  face  towards 
the  floor,  and  made  lines  and  circles  with  the  end 
of  a  burned  stick.  He  rose,  and  went  to  the  fire 
to  burn  his  stick.  He  took  hold  of  his  bristly 
hair  with  one  hand,  and  rubbed  his  forehead  and 
nose  with  the  other  and  the  blackened  stick. 
Then  he  sat  upon  a  chair,  and  placed  his  head  be- 
tween his  hands,  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  and 
gazed  intently  on  the  floor.  Then  he  sprang  to 
his  feet,  and  replied  to  some  feeble  question  of  his 
wife  (who  had  not  risen  since  the  day  she  gave 
birth  to  a  little  stranger),  by  a  loud  assurance  that 
he  had  it;  and,  taking  her  in  his  sturdy  arms,  in 
the  blankets,  the  baby  in  her  arms,  he  lifted  her 


fO  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

out,  and  held  her  over  the  black  drawings  on  the 
floor.  These  he  explained,  and  she  joined  a  small, 
hopeful,  happy  laugh  with  his  high-toned  assur- 
ance, that  she  should  never  again  toil  at  the  spin- 
ning-wheel— that  he  would  never  again  "play," 
and  have  his  loom  standing  for  want  of  weft.  She 
asked  some  questions,  which  he  answered,  after 
seating  her  in  the  arm-chair,  by  laying  her  spin- 
ning-wheel on  its  back,  the  horizontal  spindle 
standing  vertically,  while  he  made  the  wheel  re- 
volve, and  drew  a  roving  of  cotton  from  the  spindle 
into  an  attenuated  thread.  "  Our  fortune  is  made 
when  that  is  made,"  he  said,  speaking  of  his  draw- 
ings on  the  floor. 

"  What  will  you  call  it  ?  "  asked  his  wife. 

"  Call  it  ?  What  an  we  call  it  after  thysen, 
Jenny  !  They  called  thee  c  Spinning  Jenny '  afore 
I  had  thee,  because  thou  beat  every  lass  in  Stane- 
hill  Moor  at  the  wheel.  What  if  we  call  it  '  Spin- 
ning Jenny  ? '" 

It  was  all  a  mystery  to  Robert  Peel.  He  went 
home  wTith  his  bilberry  leaves,  and  went  to  bed, 
wondering  if  Hargreaves  were  out  of  his  mind,  or 
if  he,  too,  were  inventing  something,  or  about  to 
make  experiments  in  some  new  process  of  working. 

The  principle  of  spinning  by  rollers,  usually 
called  Arkwright's  invention,  was  not  introduced 
until  about  four  years  after  the  invention  of  the 
jenny.  Whether  it  was  original  to  Arkwright, 
cannot  now  be  told ;  but  Mr.  Baines  of  Leeds, 
and  other  diligent  inquirers,  have  established  the 


THE   SPINNING   JEXNY. 
i  ma.ld  when  tlmt  i»  ina.lj,  Uj  taiJ,  K{.eakinj  of  Li*  drawin~son  the  fl< 


THE  RISE  OF  THE  PEEL  FAMILY.       71 

fact  that  an  ingenious  man  named  Wyatt,  erect- 
ed a  machine  at  Birmingham,  and  afterwards  at 
Sutton  Coldfield,  in  Warwickshire,  twenty  years 
before  Arkwright  evolved  his  idea,  which  was  in 
principle  the  same — namely,  that  a  pair  of  rollers 
with  slow  motion  drew  in  a  roving  of  cotton,  and 
a  second  pair,  with  an  accelerated  motion,  drew 
the  roving  from  the  other.  All  the  varieties  of 
cotton-spinning  machinery  have  sprung  from  those 
two — the  rollers  of  Wyatt  (or  Arkwright)  and  the 
jenny  of  Hargreaves.  A  farmer,  named  Samuel 
Crompton,  living  at  Hall-i'-th'-wood,  near  Bolton, 
was  the  first  to  combine  them  in  one  machine ; 
this  was  called  the  "  mule." 

Returning  to  the  Peel  family,  we  see  Robert,  the 
son,  following  the  printing  of  calicoes  with  enthu- 
siasm. He  obtains  lessons  at  Bamber  Bridge.  We 
see  his  father  engaged  in  constructing  a  machine 
for  carding  cotton  into  rovings,  preparatory  to  spin- 
ning. Instead  of  two  flat  cards  set  full  of  small 
wiry  teeth,  the  one  card  to  work  over  the  other, 
this  machine  of  Robert  Peel  the  elder  is  a  cylinder 
covered  with  such  wiry  teeth.  It  revolves,  and  a 
flat  card  writh  a  vertical. motion  works  upon  it. 
The  carding  by  cylinders  obtains  to  this  day ;  and 
there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  it  was  invented 
at  Peel  Fold.  It  was,  however,  first  erected  for 
use  at  Brookside,  a  mile  distant,  for  the  conve- 
nience of  water  power.  You  look  down  upon  the 
place  called  Brookside  from  Stanehill  Moor,  your 
face  turned  to  the  south-west.  There,  also,  Mr. 


72  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

Peel  and  Ms  sons  erected  the  first  of  Hargreaves' 
spinning-jennies,  which  was  set  in  motion  by 
water  power,  they  being  previously  moved  by  hand. 

It  was  now,  1766,  that  the  murmurs  of  the 
spinning  women  ripened  to  acts  of  violence.  At 
first  the  men  were  pleased  with  the  jenny,  which 
gave  eight  threads  of  weft  instead  of  one;  but, 
when  it  threatened  to  supersede  hand-spinning 
altogether,  they  joined  with  the  women  in  resist- 
ing its  use.  They  marched  out  of  Blackburn  in 
mobs,  and  broke  all  the  jennies,  reduced  the  works 
at  Brookside  to  absolute  wreck,  and  leveled  the 
house  of  James  Hargreaves  at  Stanehill  Moor 
with  the  ground.  Hargreaves,  his  wife  and  child, 
fled  for  their  lives,  first  to  Manchester,  and  then 
to  Nottingham.  After  many  difficulties,  he  ob- 
tained the  assistance  of  a  person  named  Strutt, 
and  the  jenny  was  brought  into  use  at  Nottingham 
(1766-67),  also  at  Derby.  Mr.  Strutt  made  a 
fortune  out  of  it,  which,  with  his  sagacity,  in- 
tegrity, and  business  habits,  has  descended  to  the 
eminent  family  who  still  bear  that  name  at  Derby. 
It  has  been  said  that  James  Hargreaves  died  a 
pauper  at  Nottingham.  This  was  repeated  in 
books  for  many  years;  but  more  recent  investi- 
gation has  proved  that,  though  neither  so  rich  as 
the  Strutts,  Peels,  or  Arkwrights,  he  was  not  a 
pauper.  In  his  will  he  bequeathed  £4,000  to 
relatives. 

When  the  buildings  and  machinery  were  de- 
molished at  Brookside,  the  mob  proceeded  to  Al- 


THE  KISE  OF  THE  PEEL  FAMILY.      73 

tham,  six  miles  distant,  and  destroyed  the  works 
which  William  Peel,  the  eldest  son,  had  erected 
there.  Everywhere  the  Peels  were  hunted  for  the 
next  twelve  months.  At  last  the  father  turned 
his  back  on  Lancashire,  and  took  up  his  abode  at 
Burton-on-Trent,  in  Staffordshire,  where  he  es- 
tablished both  spinning  and  printing.  Meanwhile 
Robert,  the  third  son,  was  diligently  fulfilling  an 
apprenticeship  with  the  Bamber  Bridge  printers 
already  named.  When  at  liberty  to  enter  upon 
business  for  himself,  he  selected  a  green,  sunny 
spot,  with  abundance  of  water,  close  to  the  town 
of  Bury,  in  Lancashire.  His  brothers  did  the 
same,  at  the  hamlet  of  Church,  near  to  which  has 
since  arisen  the  thriving  and  populous  town  of 
Accrington. 

The  wonderful  success  of  the  whole  family  of 
the  Peels  as  merchants,  manufacturers,  and  calico 
printers,  is  a  part  of  the  industrial  history  of  Brit- 
ain. Nothing  more  can  be  done  here  than  to 
name  it.  Robert,  from  the  magnitude  of  his  works 
at  Bury,  and  from  his  political  tendencies,  became 
the  best  known.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
Yates,  one  of  his  partners  in  business,  and  by  her 
had  a  large  family. 

He  extended  his  works  to  other  places  than 
Bury.  Near  Tamworth,  in  Staffordshire,  he  ac- 
quired property  (where  there  was  an  abundance 
of  water),  and  built  the  town  of  Fazeley,  besides 
giving  employment  to  the  population  of  Tamworth. 
In  1790  he  became  member  of  Parliament  for  tho 
4 


74  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

latter  glace.  In  1797,  when  the  government  was 
distressed  for  money,  he  subscribed  £10,000  to 
the  voluntary  contribution.  Next  year,  when  in- 
vasion was  first  seriously  feared,  he  raised  six  com- 
panies of  volunteers,  chiefly  among  his  own  work- 
people at  Bury,  and  became  their  lieutenant- 
colonel.  He  published  several  political  pamphlets. 
He  was  the  first  to  claim  legislative  protection  to 
young  persons  employed  in  factories.  He  had 
been  careful  to  regulate  his  own  establishment 
more  in  accordance  with  humanity  than  most  of 
his  neighbors,  and  founded  his  bill  of  1802  to 
"  ameliorate  the  condition  of  apprentices  in  the 
cotton  and  woolen  trade  "  on  the  regulations  which 
he  had  practically  adopted.  At  various  times  he 
re-opened  this  question  during  the  next  seventeen 
years,  but  never  with  that  success  which  he  de- 
sired. In  1801,  he  was  created  a  baronet;  about 
which  time  he  purchased  the  estate  of  Drayton 
Manor,  close  beside  Fazeley.  He  died  there,  and 
was  interred  in  the  church  of  Drayton  Bassett,  in 
1830,  where  the  escutcheon,  with  its  bees  and  the 
word  "industria,"  was  raised  over  his  tomb  by  his 
more  celebrated  son.  But  there,  too,  the  son  is 
now  lying — "  Dust  to  dust,  ashes  to  ashes." 

His  son,  the  second  Sir  Robert  Peel,  was  born 
5th  February,  1788,  at  Bury.  His  latter  years 
were  identified  with  the  untaxing  of  bread,  and 
Bury  was  the  first  to  propose  a  monument  to  his 
memory  in  gratitude  for  that  legislation.  This 
monument  was  completed,  and  opened  to  public 


THE   JtlSE   OF   THE   TEEL   FAMILY.  75 

view  on  the  8th  September,  1852.  It  bears  the 
following  inscription,  quoted  from  one  of  his  latest 
speeches  :  "  It  may  be  that  I  shall  leave  a  name 
sometimes  remembered  with  expressions  of  good- 
will in  the  abodes  of  those  whose  lot  it  is  to  earn 
their  daily  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  when 
they  shall  recruit  their  exhausted  strength  with 
abundant  and  untaxed  food — the  sweeter  because 
it  is  no  longer  leavened  by  a  sense  of  injustice." 

From  Bury  he  was  sent  to  school  at  Harrow, 
where  he  displayed  great  diligence  and  aptitude 
for  learning.  Lord  Byron  was  his  contemporary, 
and,  long  before  the  statesman  reached  his  great 
eminence,  bore  testimony  to  his  unusual  ability 
and  diligence.  He  said :  "  Peel,  the  orator  and 
statesman  that  was,  or  is,  or  is  to  be,  was  my  form- 
fellow,  and  we  were  both  at  the  top  of  our  remove, 
in  public  phrase.  We  were  on  good  terms,  but 
his  brother  was  my  intimate  friend.  There  were 
always  great  hopes  of  Peel  amongst  us  all,  masters 
and  scholars,  and  he  has  not  disappointed  us.  As 
a  scholar,  he  was  greatly  my  superior  ;  as  a  de- 
claimev  and  actor,  I  was  reckoned  at  least  his 
equal.  As  a  schoolboy  out  of  school,  I  was  always 
in  scrapes ;  he  never ;  and  in  school  he  always 
knew  his  lesson,  and  I  rarely."  Mr.  Peel  pro- 
ceeded to  Christ-Church,  Oxford.  On  taking  his 
degree,  he  was  the  first  man  in  his  year.  In  1809, 
he  obtained  a  seat  in  Parliament  for  the  borough 
of  Cashel,  in  Ireland.  In  1810  he  was  made 
\mder-secretary  of  state.  In  September,  1812,  he 


76  MEN  wno  HAVE  EISEN. 

was  appointed  chief  secretary  for  Ireland.  In 
1817,  Mr.  Abbott,  speaker  of  the  House,  and  mem- 
ber for  the  University  of  Oxford,  being  elevated 
to  the  peerage,  Mr.  Peel  was  elected  for  the  uni- 
versity in  his  stead.  In  1822,  he  succeeded  Lord 
Sidrnouth  as  secretary  of  state  for  the  home  de- 
partment, and,  with  a  short  interval,  filled  that 
office  eight  years.  In  1819,  he  carried  a  measure 
effecting  great  changes  in  the  currency.  In  1826, 
he  introduced  measures  for  the  reform  of  the  crim- 
inal code.  In  1828-29,  he  reformed  the  police 
system ;  and  in  the  latter  year,  with  the  Duke  of 
Wellington,  carried  the  Catholic  Emancipation 
Act.  Before  entering  on  this  last  measure,  he 
resigned  his  seat  for  the  university,  and  stood  a 
new  election,  but  was  rejected.  In  1830,  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  baronetcy  and  a  magnificent  fortune 
as  Sir  Robert  Peel.  In  1831-32,  he  opposed  Lord 
John  Russell's  Reform  Bill.  In  addressing  the 
electors  of  Tarn  worth,  in  1832,  he  made  a  declara- 
tion of  his  principles,  which  did  not  seem  so  true 
then  as  it  does  now,  when  his  life  and  legislation 
are  a  part  of  national  history.  He  said  :  "I  have 
never  been  the  decided  supporter  of  any  band 
of  partisans,  but  have  always  thought  it  better 
to  look  steadily  at  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
the  times  in  which  we  live,  and,  if  necessities  were 
so  pressing  as  to  demand  it,  to  conclude  that  there 
was  no  discredit  or  dishonor  in  relinquishing 
opinions  or  measures,  and  adopting  others  more 
suited  to  the  altered  state  of  the  country." 


THE  KISE  OF  THE  TEEL  FAMILY.      77 

In  the  month  of  November,  1834,  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  being  in  Rome,  received  a  message  that  his 
presence  was  desired  in  London,  to  place  himself 
at  the  head  of  a  Conservative  ministry.  He  obeyed 
the  summons;  but  the  ministry  only  retained 
office  until  the  month  of  April,  1835.  He  re- 
mained out  of  office  until  1841.  In  that  year  he 
became  prime  minister,  and,  in  1842,  surprised 
both  his  adherents  and  opponents  by  the  boldness 
of  his  financial  measures.  He  proposed  an  income 
and  property  tax,  to  supply  the  deficiency  in  the 
exchequer,  which  had  been  gradually  increasing, 
and  causing  alarm  over  several  years ;  and  he 
proposed  to  exempt  from  the  tariff  of  customs 
duties  many  hundreds  of  articles.  Some  of  these 
yielded  little  or  no  revenue,  and  were  only  a 
hindrance  to  commercial  business ;  others  entered 
largely  into  manufactures,  as  the  raw  material  of 
industry.  He  still  resisted  the  repeal  of  the  corn 
laws;  but  yearly  his  resistance  became  more 
feeble,  until,  on  the  4th  of  December,  1845,  he 
announced  his  intention  to  propose  the  abolition 
of  the  corn  laws  in  the  ensuing  session  of  Parlia- 
ment. This  was  accomplished,  and  the  act  took 
full  effect  on  the  1st  February,  1849. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  session  of  1846,  Sir 
Robert  Peel  resigned  office.  He  occasionally 
spoke  in  the  House  afterwards,  but  evinced  no 
desire  to  return  to  offi'.c.  When  His  Royal  High- 
ness Prince  Albert  propounded  the  plan  for  a 
Great  Exhibition  of  the  Industry  of  all  Notions, 


78  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

for  tlie  year  1851,  Sir  Robert  Peel  entered 
heartily  into  it,  was  nominated  a  commissioner, 
and  was,  up  to  the  week  of  his  death,  the  most 
unweariedly  working  member  of  the  commission. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1850,  when  riding  on 
horseback  on  Constitution  Hill,  near  Buckingham 
Palace,  in  London,  he  was  seen  to  fall  from  his 
horse.  Whether  the  horse  stumbled,  or  he  had 
lost  his  balance  in  a  fit,  no  one  could  tell.  He 
was  bruised,  and  so  severely  injured,  that  he  never 
recovered  consciousness.  He  died  on  the  2d  of 
July,  in  the  62d  year  of  his  age. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter,  written  by 
the  father  of  the  statesman,  relating  to  his  father, 
the  Robert  Peel  of  1765,  with  whom  we  started, 
is  worth  perusal.  It  was  written  in  1821.  He 
said — "  My  father  moved  in  a  confined  sphere,  and 
employed  his  talents  in  improving  the  cotton  trade. 
.  .  .  I  lived  under  his  roof  until  I  attained  the 
age  of  manhood,  and  had  many  opportunities  of 
discovering  that  he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree 
a  mechanical  genius  and  a  good  heart.  He  had 
many  sons,  and  placed  them  all  in  situations  that 
they  might  be  useful  to  each  other.  The  cotton 
trade  was  preferred,  as  best  calculated  to  this  ob- 
ject ;  and  by  habits  of  industry,  and  imparting  to 
his  offspring  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  various 
branches  of  the  cotton  manufacture,  he  lived  to 
see  his  children  connected  together  in  business, 
and,  by  his  successful  exertions,  to  become,  with- 
out one  exception,  opulent  and  happy.  My  father 


THE   KISE    OF   THE   PEEL   FAMILY.  79 

may  be  truly  said  to  have  been  the  founder  of  our 
family ;  and  he  so  accurately  appreciated  the  im- 
portance of  commercial  wealth  in  a  national  point 
of  view,  that  he  was  often  heard  to  say,  that  the 
gains  to  the  individual  were  small  compared  with 
the  national  gain  arising  from  trade." 

Is  there  a  moral  to  be  derived  from  the  history 
of  the  Peel  family  ?  It  was  seen  in  the  obedience 
of  the  boys  to  their  father  in  1765 — "Seest  thou 
a  man  diligent  in  his  business,"  said  he,  "  he  shall 
stand  before  kings."  Harry  Garland,  the  gay 
Manchester  chapman,  became  a  ruined  spendthrift. 


WILSON,  THE  ORNITHOLOGIST. 

THE  name  of  Alexander  Wilson — "  Scottish 
poet  and  American  ornithologist" — is  dear  to 
every  admirer  of  genius,  to  every  one,  indeed,  who 
loves  to  think  of  talent  and  worth  struggling  with 
adverse  circumstances,  and,  by  dint  of  patience 
and  perseverance,  rising  to  honor  and  fame. 

He  was  born  in  the  Seedhills  of  Paisley  on  the 
6th  of  July,  1766.  His  father  (though  formerly 
he  had  been  a  distiller  on  a  limited  scale)  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  weaver,  and  at  one  time  pos- 
sessed looms  and  employed  journeymen.  In  per- 
sonal appearance  he  is  said  to  have  greatly  resem- 
bled his  son,  whom  he  survived  a  few  years. 

The  future  poet  and  ornithologist  was,  it  ap- 
pears, intended  by  his  parents  for  the  church  ; 
but  his  mother,  with  whom  the  idea  seems  to  have 
originated,  suddenly  died,  and  with  her  perished 
the  young  man's  hopes  of  filling  the  position  to 
which  he  had  been  taught  to  aspire.  In  his 
thirteenth  year  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  weaver, 


WILSON,    THE    ORNITHOLOGIST.  81 

an  engagement  which  lasted  three  years,  and 
which  was  faithfully  fulfilled.  For  four  years 
after  this  Wilson  was  employed  as  a  journeyman 
weaver — sometimes  in  Paisley  and  sometimes  in 
Lochwinnoch.  It  was  during  these  years  that  he 
was  first  visited  by  the  muse,  and  some  of  his  pieces 
gained  no  little  repute  in  his  native  town. 

In  his  twentieth  year  a  new  calling  opened  tip 
to  Wilson.  William  Duncan,  his  brother-in-law, 
with  whom  he  was  now  employed,  having  deserted 
the  weaving  in  order  to  follow  out  a  mercantile 
speculation  on  the  eastern  coasts  of  Scotland, 
Wilson  determined,  though  at  an  humble  distance, 
to  follow  his  example.  He  accordingly  devoted 
himself  to  the  wandering  life  of  a  peddler  or  "  chap- 
man," an  occupation  then  more  frequently  followed 
than  at  present,  the  contents  of  his  wallet  or 
"  pack  "  consisting  of  a  miscellaneous  assortment 
of  such  articles  of  dress,  bijouterie,  <fcc.,  as  were 
likely  to  be  in  request  in  the  houses  of  the  farmers 
or  peasantry.  A  love  of  "  rural  sights  and  rural 
sounds,"  combined  with  a  certain  shrewd  talent 
for  the  observation  of  character,  which  distin- 
guished the  poet,  must  have  lent  a  peculiar  charm 
to  such  an  employment.  The  idea  occurred  to 
Wilson  that  he  might  advantageously  add  a 
volume  of  poems  to  the  other  attractions  of  his 
pack ;  and  having  got  prospectuses  printed,  he 
set  out  in  September,  1789,  for  Edinburgh — in 
order,  as  he  says  in  his  journal,  "to  make  one 
bold  push  for  the  united  interests  of  pack  and 
6 


82  MEN   WHO   HAVE   PJSEN. 

poems."  In  his  new  character  of  peddler-poet,  he 
did  not  long  remain  in  Edinburgh,  but  proceeded 
at  once  to  the  towns  on  the  eastern  coast.  The 
journal  which  he  kept  during  the  excursion  was 
afterwards  printed  with  his  poems.  It  is  cleverly 
written — a  kind  of  prose  of  a  much  higher  order 
than  his  poetry — and  contains  some  shrewd  obser- 
vations, with  a  few  sketches  of  the  more  remarkable 
characters  which  fell  in  his  way.  In  the  course 
of  his  wanderings,  he  met  in  with  "  a  school- 
master, who  seemed  to  be  a  son  of  Bacchus,  learn- 
ing, and  snuff;  for  after  several  favorable  obser 
vations  on  the  specimen  (of  his  poems),  and  an 
enormous  draught  of  snuff,  he  declared  he  would 
most  certainly  take  a  copy.  4  But  remember,5 
says  he,  'by  Jupiter,  we  will  offer  up  one-half 
of  its  price  at  the  shrine  of  Bacchus.' "  In  the 
same  town  he  encountered  a  brother  of  the 
rhyming  craft,  whom  "  he  began  to  interrogate  as 
to  his  knowledge  of  poetry,  but  found  him  entirely 
ignorant  of  everything  save  rhyme.  Happening 
to  ask  him  if  he  had  ever  read  any  of  Pope  or 
Milton's  pieces,  he  told  me  he  never  had,  for  he 
did  not  understand  one  word  of  Latin.  I  showed 
him  my  proposals,  asked  him  to  subscribe,  and 
said  I  knew  the  author.  He  read  part  of  them 
with  excessive  laughter,  declared  that  the  author 
was  certainly  a  learned  fellow,  and  that  he  would 
cheerfully  subscribe,  but  that  his  wife  was  such  a 
person  that  if  she  knew  of  him  doing  anything 
without  her  approbation,  there  would  be  no  peace 


WILSON,    THE   ORNITHOLOGIST.  83 

in  the  house  for  months  to  come.  'And,  by  the 
by,'  says  he,  '  we  are  most  dismally  poor.'  I  told 
him  that  poverty  was  the  characteristic  of  a  poet. 
4  You  are  right,'  said  he,  '  and  for  that  very  reason 
I  am  proud  of  being  poor.' " 

After  much  hard  labor  and  many  rebuffs — the 
poet  meanwhile  subsisting  on  the  sales  from  his 
pack — he  at  length  got  a  goodly  few  subscribers ; 
and  having  retraced  his  steps  to  his  native  town, 
he  engaged  with  a  bookseller,  and  "rushed  on 
publication."  His  next  step  was  a  second  peregri- 
nation to  deliver  the  copies  which  had  been  sub- 
scribed for.  Here  again  the  pack  was  called  into 
requisition,  to  sustain  him  during  the  distribution 
of  his  "  rhyming  ware."  The  few  opening  sen- 
tences of  his  journal,  descriptive  of  his  setting  out 
from  Edinburgh,  make  up  a  very  pleasing  little 
picture,  not  unworthy  of  the  hand  which  after- 
wards threw  off  the  finished  sketches  in  America. 
He  says — "  Having  furnished  my  budget  with  what 
necessary  articles  might  be  required,  equipped  with 
a  short  oaken  plant,  I  yielded  my  shoulders  to  the 
load,  and  by  daybreak  left  the  confines  of  our 
ancient  metropolis.  The  morning  was  mild,  clear, 
and  inviting.  A  gentle  shower,  which  had  fallen 
amid  the  stillness  of  night,  besprinkled  the  fields 
and  adjoining  meadows,  exposing  them  to  the  eye, 
clad  with  brightest  green,  and  glittering  with 
unnumbered  globes  of  dew.  Nature  seemed  to 
smile  on  my  intended  expedition;  I  hailed  the 
happy  omen,  and  with  a  heart  light  as  the  lark 


84  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

that  hovered  over  my  head,  I  passed  the  foot  of 
Salisbury  Rocks,  and  directing  my  course  towards 
Dalkeith,  launched  among  the  first  farms  and  cot- 
tages that  offered." 

Many  mortifications  awaited  the  peddler-poet  on 
his  second  trip.  He  found  that  many  of  the  par- 
ties who  had  subscribed  for  his  volume  had  en- 
tirely forgotten  the  circumstance,  and  the  greater 
portion  "  either  could  not  or  would  not  accept  of 
it."  Odd  characters  in  abundance,  as  may  be 
readily  supposed,  fell  in  his  way.  An  innkeeper, 
by  way  of  puffing  the  poet,  and  at  the  same  time 
paying  a  compliment  to  Ms  own  understanding, 
said  to  the  poor  author  regarding  his  pieces — 

"  They're  clever,  very  clever ;  but  I  incline  more 
to  the  historical  way,  such  as  Goldsmith's  Scots 
History,  the  Inquest  of  Peru,  and  things  of  that 
kind,  else  I  would  cheerfully  take  a  copy." 

On  the  whole,  the  result  of  this  expedition  was 
very  discouraging  to  Wilson,  who,  on  his  return 
to  Paisley,  was  fain  once  more  to  settle  down  to 
the  loom.  To  this  "  his  poverty  but  not  his  will 
consented;"  and  on  another  opportunity  offering, 
he  again  deserted  it  for  the  fields  of  literature. 
A  friend  in  Edinburgh  haying  informed  him  that 
the  question,  "Whether  have  the  exertions  of 
Allan  Ramsay  or  Robert  Fergusson  done  more 
honor  to  Scottish  poetry?"  was  to  be  discussed 
in  a  debating  society  called  the  Forum,  Wilson 
seized  the  opportunity  for  distinguishing  himself, 
and  after  a  few  dnys'  hard  work  at  the  loom,  in 


WILSON,    THE   ORNITHOLOGIST.  85 

order  to  provide  the  necessary  funds,  and  a  little 
mental  labor  at  home,  the  ambitious  poet  set  out 
for  Edinburgh.  He  arrived  just  in  time  to  take 
part  in  the  debate,  and  enthusiastically  delivered 
his  poem  entitled,  "The  Laurel  Disputed,"  in  de- 
fence of  the  unfortunate  Fergusson.  The  piece 
gained  him  some  notice  and  applause,  and  was  the 
means  of  detaining  him  in  Edinburgh  till  he  had 
composed  and  recited  two  other  productions, 
namely,  "Rab  and  Ringan,"  and  "The  Loss  o' 
the  Pack." 

Stimulated  by  the  applause  he  received  while 
resident  in  the  metropolis,  Wilson,  on  his  return 
to  his  native  town,  once  more  set  to  the  unprofit- 
able business  of  publishing,  by  producing  a  second 
edition  of  his  poems,  and  again  did  he  depart  on  a 
thankless  and  harassing  mission  to  dispose  of  his 
volume.  This  turned  out  as  unfortunate  as  the 
first,  and  the  result  of  all  these  high  hopes  and 
anticipations  was  the  return  to  his  shuttles. 
About  this  time  he  opened  up  a  correspondence 
with  Burns,  then  in  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  and 
shortly  afterwards  paid  him  a  visit  in  Ayrshire. 
Of  this  interview  Wilson  always  spoke  in  enthu- 
siastic terms. 

The  poet  made  a  great  start  in  the  year  1792, 
when  the  poem  of  "Watty  and  Meg"  made  its 
appearance.  This  is  a  piece  of  rich  and  genuine 
humor,  almost  rivaling  in  its  broad  and  original 
pictures  of  low  life,  its  pathos  and  perfect  versifi- 
cation, the  best  parts  of  "  Tarn  o'  Shanter."  In- 


86  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

deed,  both  poems  were  universally  ascribed  to  the 
same  hand,  till  Wilson  dropped  the  anonymous 
curtain,  under  the  needless  shade  of  which  the 
poem  had  been  issued,  and  declared  himself  the 
author.  The  popularity  of  this  piece  was  pecu- 
liarly gratifying  to  the  author,  this  being  the  only 
effort  of  his  muse  which  had  successfully  command- 
ed anything  like  universal  esteem. 

This  bright  glimpse  of  sunshine  was  speedily 
followed  by  a  lowering  sky.  A  dispute  happening 
to  arise  between  the  manufacturers  and  weavers 
of  Paisley,  "Wilson  at  once  took  part  with  the 
latter,  and  in  the  course  of  the  controversy  pro- 
duced an  offensive  piece  of  personal  satire  entitled 
"The  Shark,  or  Lang  Mills  Detected."  This  sub- 
jected him  to  a  criminal  prosecution  before  the 
sheriff,  in  which  he  was  convicted.  But  his  pro- 
secutors were  not  vindictive.  He  suffered  only  a 
few  days'  imprisonment,  and  the  mortification  of 
being  obliged  to  burn  his  own  poem  on  the  stair 
fronting  the  jail.  The  folly  of  these  attacks  he 
deeply  regretted;  and  many  years  afterwards,  in 
America,  we  find  him  rebuking  his  brother  for 
having  brought  with  him  copies  of  the  offensive 
Paisley  diatribes.  "These,"  said  Wilson,  throw- 
ing the  packet  into  the  fire,  "  were  the  sins  of  my 
youth,  and  had  I  taken  my  good  old  father's  ad- 
vice, they  never  would  have  seen  the  light." 

The  mortification  consequent  on  this  event, 
combined  with  the  disagreeable  prominence  he 
had  attained  in  his  native  town  as  the  advocate  of 


WILSOX,  Tin;  ORNITHOLOGIST.  87 

tlie  French  Revolution,  were  the  main  causes  of 
the  poet's  leaving  Scotland.  And  having  made 
up  his  mind  to  the  step,  with  the  singleness  of 
purpose  which  characterized  him,  he  set  about 
gathering  the  necessary  funds,  and  for  four  months 
labored  incessantly  at  the  loom,  confining  the 
expenses  of  his  living  during  that  time,  as  we  are 
informed,  to  one  shilling  a-week.  He  was  thus 
able  to  save  the  sum  necessary  for  the  voyage, 
and  embarked  at  Belfast  in  a  ship  bound  for  New- 
castle, in  the  State  of  Delaware,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  14th  July,  1794. 

When  the  future  ornithologist  of  his  adopted 
country  set  foot  on  its  shores,  his  prospects  were 
as  gloomy  as  may  well  be  imagined.  His  passage- 
money  had  absorbed  all  his  means,  even  to  the  last 
shilling.  He  had  no  friends,  no  letters  of  introduc- 
tion, and  his  poetical  talents,  as  sad  experience 
had  taught  him,  were  little  calculated  to  gain  him 
favor  or  friends.  But  his  was  not  the  soul  to  be 
daunted  by  circumstances,  however  untoward ;  so 
he  cheerfully  shouldered  his  gun  and  marched 
towards  Philadelphia — the  same  city  which,  some 
seventy  years  before,  had  been  entered  in  simi- 
larly destitute  circumstances  by  one  of  the  greatest 
men  of  the  eighteenth  century — Franklin,  of  ori- 
gin alike  humble  with  the  future  ornithologist 
(tike  him,  also,  destined  for  the  church),  but  who 
lived  to  exercise  an  influence  on  the  affairs  of  the 
world  greater  than  the  greatest  monarchs  or  minis- 
ters of  his  time.  The  reminiscence,  so  interesting 


88  MEN    WHO    HAVE   EISEN. 

in  the  circumstances,  could  scarcely  escape  Wilson, 
and  must  have  infused  fresh  courage  and  hope  into 
his  mind. 

On  arriving  in  the  town,  his  first  search  was  for 
weaving,  but  none  was  to  be  had.  Chance  threw 
him  in  the  way  of  a  countryman,  who  was  in  busi 
ness  as  a  copperplate-printer,  from  whom  Wilson 
procured  employment,  which,  however,  was  de- 
serted on  finding  work  at  his  own  business.  After 
a  few  months,  the  loom  was  again  abandoned  for 
his  old  occupation  of  peddler,  in  which  capacity  he 
traveled  over  a  considerable  part  of  New  Jersey  ; 
meeting  with  more  success,  however,  than  had  at- 
tended him  in  his  own  country.  On  his  return 
from  wandering,  he  opened  a  school,  and  for  sev- 
eral years,  in  diiferent  places,  he  taught  with  great 
efficiency  and  success.  To  remedy  the  defects  of 
his  education,  he  began  a  course  of  systematic 
study,  and  among  other  acquisitions,  succeeded  in 
gaining  a  knowledge  of  mathematics,  in  which  he 
proceeded  so  far  as  to  be  able  to  survey.  After 
several  unimportant  removals,  we  find  him  appoint- 
ed teacher  of  a  union  school  in  the  township  or 
Kingsessing,  not  far  from  Philadelphia.  While  resi- 
dent here,  he  learned  that  his  nephew,  William 
Duncan  (whose  father  was  then  dead),  had  landed 
in  New  York,  with  his  mother  and  a  large  family 
of  brothers  and  sisters ;  and  knowing  that  his 
favorable  representations  of  America  had  been  the 
principal  means  of  inducing  his  nephew  to  this 
perilous  step,  Wilson  instantly  set  out  on  foot  for 


89 

New  York,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles,  in 
order  to  assist  in  getting  his  relations  comfortably 
settled.  Having  accomplished  this  object,  the 
generous  man  returned  on  foot  to  the  labors  of  the 
school-room ;  and,  from  all  we  can  learn,  thinking 
no  more  of  the  feat  than  any  other  ordinary  act  01 
duty. 

It  was  also  while  residing  at  Kingsessing  that 
Wilson  became  acquainted  with  a  kindred  spirit 
of  the  name  of  Bartram,  an  amiable,  self-taught 
naturalist,  who  has  been  styled  the  American 
LinnaBus  of  the  period,  and  whose  residence  and 
botanic  garden  were  happily  situated  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Wilson's  schoolhouse.  The  love  of  nature, 
which  had  always  characterized  Wilson,  here  seems 
to  have  taken  firm  root ;  and  from  the  feelings  of 
general  interest  with  which  all  the  works  of  God 
were  regarded,  gradually  rose  a  predilection  for 
that  branch  of  natural  history,  the  pursuit  of  which 
was  to  immortalize  his  name.  The  nature  of  his 
employments  at  this  period  are  beautifully  de- 
scribed in  a  letter  to  his  friend  Bartram : — "  I 
sometimes  smile  to  think,  that  while  others  are 
immersed  in  deep  schemes  of  speculation  and 
aggrandizement,  in  building  towns  and  purchasing 
plantations,  I  am  entranced  in  contemplation  over 
the  plumage  of  a  lark,  or  gazing,  like  a  despair 
ing  lover,  on  the  lineaments  of  an  owl.  While 
others  are  hoarding  up  their  bags  of  money,  with- 
out the  power  of  enjoying  it,  I  am  collecting, 
without  injuring  my  conscience  or  wounding  my 


90  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

peace  of  mind,  those  beautiful  specimens  of  Nature's 
works  that  are  for  ever  pleasing.  I  have  had  live 
crows,  hawks,  and  owls ;  opossums,  squirrels, 
snakes,  lizards,  &c.,  so  that  my  room  has  some- 
times reminded  me  of  Noah's  ark ;  but  Noah  had 
a  wife  in  one  corner  of  it,  and,  in  this  particular, 
our  parallel  does  not  altogether  tally.  I  receive 
every  subject  of  natural  history  that  is  brought  to 
me ;  and,  though  they  do  not  march  into  my  ark 
from  all  quarters,  as  they  did  into  that  of  our  great 
ancestor,  yet  I  find  means,  by  the  distribution  of 
a  few  fivepenny  bits,  to  make  them  find  the  way 
fast  enough.  A  boy  not  long  ago  brought  me  a 
large  basketfull  of  crows.  I  expect  his  next  load 
will  be  bull-frogs,  if  I  do  n't  soon  issue  orders  to 
the  contrary.  One  of  my  boys  caught  a  mouse  in 
school,  a  few  days  ago,  and  directly  marched  up  to 
me  with  his  prisoner.  I  set  about  drawing  it  the 
same  evening,  and  all  the  while  the  pantings  of  its 
little  heart  showed  it  to  be  in  the  most  extreme 
agonies  of  fear.  I  had  intended  to  kill  it,  in  order 
to  fix  it  in  the  claws  of  a  stuffed  owl ;  but  hap- 
pening to  spill  a  few  drops  of  water  near  where  it 
was  tied,  it  lapped  it  up  with  such  eagerness,  and 
looked  in  my  face  with  such  an  eye  of  supplicating 
terror,  as  perfectly  overcame  me.  I  immediately 
restored  it  to  life  and  liberty.  The  agonies  of  a 
prisoner  at  the  stake,  while  the  fire  and  instru- 
ments of  torture  are  preparing,  could  not  be  more 
severe  than  the  sufferings  of  that  poor  mouse ; 
and,  insignificant  as  the  object  was,  I  felt  at  that 


WILSON — THE   OHNITIIOLOGIST. 

"One  of  my  boyj  ca-.:ght  a  mouse  in  school,  a  few  day*  f.jro,  nn«ld:rectly  marched  up  to  me  with  li:s 
prisoner.  .  .  .  I  lnul  intended  to  kill  it,  in  cr.ler  to  fix  it  in  the  cluwa  i.f  a  stuffed  owl ;  bv.t, 
happening  to  fp!'.l  a  few  drops  of  water  ni-ar  w  hi-re  it  was  licil,  it  Iaj)[x.-d  it  up  w::h  such  eagerness, 
and  looked  in  my  !ace  with  such  an  eyj  of  supplicating  terror,  BJ  perfectly  overcame  Die.  I  imme- 
diately restored  it  to  life  and  liberty." — PACE  90. 


WILSON,    THE   ORNITHOLOGIST.  91 

moment  tlie  sweet  sensations  that  mercy  leaves 
in  the  mind  when  she  triumphs  over  cruelty."  The 
first  indication  of  his  design  to  form  an  ornitholo- 
gical collection  is  found  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  in 
Paisley,  written  in  June,  1803.  He  says: — "Close 
application  to  the  duties  of  my  profession,  which 
I  have  followed  since  November,  1795,  has  deeply 
injured  my  constitution;  the  more  so,  that  my 
rambling  disposition  was  the  worst  calculated  of 
any  one  in  the  world  for  the  austere  regularity  of 
a  teacher's  life.  I  have  had  many  pursuits  since 
I  left  Scotland — mathematics,  the  German  lan- 
guage, music,  drawing,  &c. ;  and  I  am  about  to 
make  a  collection  of  all  our  finest  birds." 

Wilson's  first  designs,  though  but  faint  outlines 
of  the  magnificent  plan  he  afterwards  conceived, 
were  sufficiently  comprehensive  to  alarm  his 
friends,  who  sought  to  dissuade  him  from  an  en- 
terprise which,  as  they  represented,  and  with 
much  truth,  only  fortune  and  learned  leisure  could 
competently  achieve.  But  the  naturalist,  having 
formed  his  plan,  set  to  work  with  ah1  the  indomi- 
table energy  of  his  character,  and  in  October  of 
the  year  1 804,  accompanied  by  his  nephew  and  a 
friend,  he  began  his  first  bird-seeking  pilgrimage 
by  a  pedestrian  tour  to  Niagara.  The  travelers 
had  undertaken  the  journey  too  late  in  the  season, 
and  on  their  return  were  overtaken  by  winter,  and 
had  to  travel  a  great  part  of  the  way  through 
snow.  The  perseverance  of  his  companions  failed, 
but  Wilson  set  forth  alone  with  his  gun  and  bag- 


92  MEN   WHO   IIAYE   KISEN. 

gage,  and  reached  home  safely,  after  an  absence 
of  fifty-nine  days.  Regarding  this  journey,  he  thus 
enthusiastically  writes  to  his  friend  Bartram : — 
"Though  in  this  tour  I  have  had  every  disadvan- 
tage of  deep  roads  and  rough  weather,  hurried 
marches,  and  many  other  inconveniences ;  yet,  so 
far  ain  I  from  being  satisfied  with  what  I  have 
seen,  or  discouraged  by  the  fatigues  which  every 
traveler  must  submit  to,  that  I  feel  more  eager 
than  ever  to  commence  some  more  extensive  ex- 
pedition, where  scenes  and  subjects  entirely  new, 
and  generally  unknown,  might  reward  my  curio- 
sity; and  where,  perhaps,  my  humble  acquisitions 
might  add  something  to  the  stores  of  knowledge." 

As  an  evidence  of  the  strength  of  his  resolution, 
lie  set  himself  to  learn  drawing  and  coloring,  and 
the  art  of  etching  on  copper.  In  these  arts  he 
made  some  progress,  but  meanwhile  his  worldly 
means  were  far  from  improving.  His  scholars 
fell  off,  till  the  number  could  not  support  him; 
but  such  was  the  estimation  in  which  Wilson  was 
held,  that  the  trustees  of  the  school,  on  learning 
the  state  of  affairs,  generously  subscribed  for  a 
sufficient  number  of  pupils  to  maintain  him. 

In  the  beginning  of  1806,  Wilson  received  in- 
timation that  the  United  States  Government  in- 
tended despatching  a  party  of  scientific  men  to 
explore  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  was 
an  expedition  in  which  Wilson  would  have  re- 
joiced to  embark,  and  accordingly  he  addressed  a 
letter  to  Jefferson,  offering  his  service ;  but  much 


WILSON,    THE   ORNITHOLOGIST.  93 

to  the  chagrin  of  the  eager  naturalist,  the  letter 
was  never  answered. 

A  brighter  era  at  length  dawned  on  the 
hitherto  unfortunate  projector.  A  bookseller  of 
Philadelphia,  Mr.  Samuel  Bradford,  "being  about 
to  publish  an  edition  of  Kees'  Cyclopaedia,  Wilson 
was  recommended  to  him  as  a  person  well  qualified 
to  superintend  the  work,  and  his  services  were  ac- 
cepted. This  was  an  occupation  more  congenial 
to  his  mind,  and  it  gave  him  a  better  opportunity 
of  pursuing  his  studies,  being  free  from  the  harass- 
ing cares  of  a  teacher's  life."  The  connection  was 
of  signal  service  to  Wilson ;  for  on  his  explaining  to 
Mr.  Bradford  his  views  regarding  "The  American 
Ornithology,"  that  gentleman  undertook  the  risk 
of  publication.  One  material  difficulty  being  thus 
removed,  Wilson  set  himself  for  some  months 
heartily  and  unremittingly  to  the  duties  of 
author;  and  in  the  month  of  September,  1808,  the 
first  volume  of  his  great  work  made  its  appearance. 

The  design  and  execution  of  the  work  have 
been  truly  described  as  magnificent.  But  although 
it  took  the  public  completely  by  surprise,  yet  the 
patronage  was  so  meagre,  that  the  enterprising 
editor  was  fain  to  call  in  on  its  behalf  the  old  re- 
source of  his  peddler  craft — canvassing  for  sub- 
scribers ;  and,  with  this  view,  he  set  out  on  a  tour 
through  the  Southern  States,  which  lasted  for  six 
months,  but  was  only  slightly  productive  of  the 
encouragement  he  was  in  quest  of,  though  doubt- 
less the  naturalist  found  this  and  similar  expcdi- 


94:  MEN    WHO    HAVE   RISEN. 

tions  of  immense  advantage  in  the  accumulation 
of  materials.  Of  this  expedition,  Wilson  thus 
writes  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  :  "  I  have  labored 
with  the  zeal  of  a  knight-errand  in  exhibiting  this 
book  of  mine  wherever  I  went — traveling  with  it 
like  a  beggar  with  his  bantling  from  town  to  town, 
and  from  one  country  to  another."  The  second 
volume  was  published  in  January,  1810,  fifteen 
months  after  the  first  was  issued ;  and  immediately 
on  its  appearance,  Wilson  again  started  on  an  ex- 
tensive land  and  water  journey,  including  a  sail 
of  720  miles  down  the  river  Ohio.  Contrary  to 
the  advice  of  his  friends,  the  daring  ornithologist 
decided  on  attempting  this  dangerous  voyage  alone 
and  unattended.  The  outset  of  the  expedition  is 
thus  graphically  described :  "  My  stock  of  pro- 
visions consisted  of  some  biscuit  and  cheese,  and  a 
bottle  of  cordial  presented  me  by  a  gentleman  of 
Pittsburgh ;  my  gun,  trunk,  and  greatcoat  occupied 
one  end  of  the  boat ;  I  had  a  small  tin,  occasion- 
ally to  bale  her,  and  to  take  my  beverage  from  the 
Ohio  with  ;  and  bidding  adieu  to  the  smoky  con- 
fines of  Pitt,  I  launched  into  the  stream,  and  soon 
winded  away  among  the  hills  that  everywhere  en- 
close this  noble  river.  The  weather  was  warm 
and  serene,  and  the  river  like  a  mirror,  except 
where  floating  masses  of  ice  spotted  its  surface, 
and  which  required  some  care  to  steer  clear  of; 
but  these,  to  my  surprise,  in  less  than  a  day's 
sailing,  totally  disappeared.  Far  from  being  con- 
cerned at  my  new  situation,  I  felt  my  heart  ex- 


WILSON,    THE   ORNITHOLOGIST.  95 

pand  with  joy  at  the  novelties  which  surrounded 
me ;  I  listened  with  pleasure  to  the  whistling  of 
the  redbird  on  the  banks  as  I  passed,  and  contem- 
plated the  forest  scenery  as  it  receded,  with  in- 
creasing delight.  The  smoke  of  the  numerous 
maple  sugar  camps,  rising  lazily  among  the  moun- 
tains, gave  great  effect  to  the  varying  landscape ; 
and  the  grotesque  log  cabins,  that  here  and  there 
opened  from  the  woods,  were  diminished  into  mere 
dog-houses  by  the  sublimity  of  the  impending 
mountains."  This  solitary  voyage,  "  exposed  to 
hardships  all  day,  and  hard  berths  all  night,  to 
storms  of  rain,  hail,  and  snow,  for  it  froze  severely 
almost  every  night,"  lasted  some  three  weeks; 
and  then  mooring  his  boat  in  Bear  Grass  Creek, 
at  the  rapids  of  the  Ohio,  and  "leaving 
his  baggage  to  be  forwarded  by  a  wagon, 
he  set  out  on  foot  to  Lexington,  seventy- 
two  miles  further,  where,  on  the  4th  of  May,  he 
hired  a  horse  and  departed  on  a  journey  towards 
Natchez,  with  a  pistol  in  each  pocket,  and  his 
fowling-piece  belted  across  his  shoulders.  During 
this  long  and  hazardous  journey  he  experienced 
great  hardships,  sometimes  having  to  swim  perilous 
creeks,  and  having  to  encamp  for  thirteen  different 
nights  in  the  woods  alone.  To  these  inconvenien- 
ces was  added  a  new  attack  of  the  dysentery,  when 
far  amidst  execrable  swamps.  '  My  complaint,' 
he  writes,  c  increased  so  much  that  I  could  scarce- 
ly sit  on  horseback,  and  all  night  my  mouth 
and  throat  were  parched  with  burning  thirst  and 


96  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

fever.  On  Sunday  I  bought  some  eggs,  which  I 
ate,  and  repeated  the  dose  at  mid-day  and  towards 
evening.  I  found  great  benefit  from  this  simple 
remedy,  and  inquired  all  along  the  road  for  fresh 
eggs ;  and  for  a  week  made  them  almost  my  sole 
food,  until  I  completed  my  cure.'  He  was  also 
in  danger  of  a  tornado,  attended  with  a  drenching 
of  rain.  Trees  were  broken  and  torn  up  by  the 
roots,  and  those  which  stood  were  bent  almost  to 
the  ground ;  limbs  of  trees  flew  whirling  past  him ; 
and  his  life  was  in  such  danger  that  he  was 
astonished  how  he  escaped,  and  declared  he  would 
rather  take  his  chance  in  a  field  of  battle,  than  in 
such  a  tornado  again.  Nevertheless  he  seems  to 
have  enjoyed  his  journey,  and  reached  Natchez  on 
the  17th  of  May.  After  enjoying  at  this  place  the 
kind  hospitality  of  William  Dunbar,  at  whose  res- 
idence he  remained  a  few  days,  he  proceeded  on 
his  journey,  and  on  the  6th  of  June  arrived  at 
New  Orleans,  distant  from  Natchez  two  hundred 
and  fifty-two  miles.  But  as  the  sickly  season  was 
fast  approaching,  he  did  not  consider  it  safe  to 
remain  there  long ;  and  on  the  25th  of  the  month 
he  took  passage  for  New  York,  where  he  landed 
on  July  the  30th.  He  had  left  home  on  the  30th 
of  January,  and  all  his  expenses  to  this  period 
amounted  only  to  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
He  arrived  in  Philadelphia  on  the  2d  of  August, 
after  an  absence  of  seven  months,  and  immediately 
applied  himself  with  increasing  industry  to  the 
preparation  of  his  third  volume."  • 


WILSON,    THE   OSNITUOLOGIST.  97 

From  this  period  to  the  year  1812,  Wilson 
undertook  several  other  journeys,  partly  with  the 
object  of  procuring  subscribers,  and  partly  also  to 
gather  fresh  materials  for  his  publication,  which, 
meanwhile,  was  rapidly  proceeding,  and  had  at- 
tained its  seventh  volume  early  in  1813.  The 
carrying  forward  of  the  grand  project  which  filled 
the  mind  of  Wilson,  would,  even  to  a  learned 
body  with  ample  materials  at  command,  have  been 
sufficiently  arduous  and  exciting ;  and  what  then 
must  it  have  been  to  a  single  individual  who  had 
all  his  specimens  to  collect,  arrange,  and  make 
drawings  from,  and  afterwards,  in  some  cases,  to 
etch  the  plates  and  color  the  engravings?  The 
health  of  the  ardent  naturalist  gradually  gave  way 
under  the  extraordinary  exertion,  but  he  would 
hear  of  no  respite  from  his  labors ;  "  he  denied 
himself  rest,  and  spent  the  whole  of  the  day  in 
unceasing  exertion."  To  the  remonstrances  of 
his  friends  he  calmly  said,  "Life  is  short,  and 
nothing  can  be  done  without  exertion."  The 
eighth  volume  of  his  work  was  announced  to  ap- 
pear in  November,  1812,  and  another  volume  was 
intended  to  conclude  it ;  but  the  gifted  author 
was  not  destined  to  see  the  completion  of  his  pro- 
ject. Severe  labor  and  anxiety  had  now  so  far 
undermined  his  constitution  as  to  predispose  it  to 
yield  under  the  first  extraordinary  exertion,  and 
to  a  person  of  Wilson's  enthusiastic  temperament 
the  occasion  soon  presented  itself.  The  cause 
which  led  to  his  early  and  lamented  death  was 
7 


98  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

this  :  "  Sitting  one  clay  conversing  with  a  friend, 
a  rare  bird,  which  he  had  long  been  desirous  to 
possess,  happened  to  fly  past  the  window.  The 
moment  Wilson  beheld  it,  he  seized  his  gun,  and 
after  an  arduous  pursuit,  during  which  he  swam 
across  a  river,  succeeded  in  killing  it ;  but  the 
consequence  was  a  severe  cold,  followed  by  an 
attack  of  dysentery,  which,  after  ten  days'  dura- 
tion, ended  his  mortal  career.  He  died  at  nine 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  August,  1813, 
in  his  48th  year,  and  was  interred  on  the  follow- 
ing day — the  whole  of  the  scientific  men  of  the 
city,  and  the  clergy  of  all  denominations,  attend- 
ing the  mournful  scene.  We  are  told,  also,  that 
the  Columbian  Society  of  Fine  Arts  walked  in  pro- 
cession before  the  hearse,  and  for  thirty  days  wore 
crape  round  their  arms. 

Thus  ended  the  life  of  this  gifted  man.  Of  his 
personal  character  we  have  said  little,  leaving  it 
to  be  gathered  from  the  events  of  his  chequered 
career.  From,  first  to  last  he  maintained  his  inde- 
pendence in  thought  and  action,  and,  if  he  ever 
strove  after  the  gifts  of  fortune,  it  was  only,  like 
Burns,  "  for  the  glorious  privilege  of  being  inde- 
pendent." His  great  work,  which  cost  him  so 
many  years  of  the  most  arduous  toil  and  an 
anxiety  ever  on  the  stretch,  brought  him  noth- 
ing more  substantial  than  fame — of  pecuniary 
enumeration  he  received  nothing,  except  payment 
for  coloring  his  own  plates.  "  The  American 
Ornithology"  ranks  amongst  the  first  works  on 


WILSOX,    THE   ORNITHOLOGIST.  99 

natural  history  which  any  age  or  nation  ever  gave 
birth  to,  and  is  not  less  remarkable  for  the  beauty 
and  fidelity  of  the  illustrations  than  for  the  admi- 
rable spirit  and  faithfulness  of  the  descriptions — 
a  proud  triumph  for  the  Paisley  weaver,  and  due 
to  his  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance. 

Wilson's  intense  delight  in  the  feathered  song- 
sters of  the  grove  was  beautifully  portrayed  in 
the  wish  he  had  more  than  once  expressed,  "  that 
he  might  be  buried  in  some  rural  spot  where  the 
birds  might  sing  over  his  grave." 


BENJAMIN  WEST,  THE  AKTIST. 

BENJAMIN  WEST,  the  earliest  and  most  distin- 
guished of  American  painters,  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  10th 
of  October,  1738.  He  was  the  youngest  of  nine 
children,  of  excellent  Quaker  parents,  and  at  a 
very  early  age  gave  evidence  of  a  genius  for  Art. 
When  only  seven  years  of  age,  while  keeping  flies 
from  the  sleeping  baby  of  his  eldest  sister,  he  was 
prompted  to  attempt  a  sketch  of  the  babe  in  black 
and  red  ink,  which  were  at  hand.  The  portrait 
was  so  accurate  that  his  mother,  upon  returning, 
snatched  the  paper  from  his  hand,  exclaiming,  "  I 
declare  he  has  made  a  likeness  of  little  Sally." 
His  parents  encouraged"  his  efforts,  and  from  the 
Indians  he  learned  the  use  of  the  red  and  yellow 
colors  with  which  they  painted  their  belts  and  or- 
naments. This  was,  however,  after  he  had  ad- 
vanced somewhat  in  his  artist  career.  At  first,  the 
colors  he  used  were  principally  charcoal  and  chalk, 
mixed  with  the  juice  of  berries,  while  the  material 


BENJAMIN    WEST,    TK&   ARTIST.     ,  , ,   .  ,1X>JL  , 

for  his  brushes  were  drawii  from  the  tail  of  a  cat 
AVith  these  colors  and  implements,  when  only  nine 
years  of  age,  he  drew  on  a  sheet  of  paper  the 
portraits  of  a  neighboring  family.  When  twelve 
years  of  age  he  accomplished  a  more  difficult  task, 
and  drew  a  portrait  of  himself.  But  the  knowl- 
edge which  he  had  gained  from  the  Indians  en- 
larged his  field  of  operations.  His  mother's  indigo 
bag  supplied  him  with  blue,  and  he  now  had  the 
three  primary  colors  to  work  with. 

"Such  was  the  juvenile  beginning  of  the  greatest 
historical  painter  of  the  last  century ;  such  were 
the  first  buddings  of  the  genius  of  that  boy,  who 
would  not  ride  in  company  of  another,  because  he 
aspired  to  nothing  greater  than  a  tailor's  shop- 
board. 

" '  Do  you  really  mean  to  be  a  tailor  ? '  asked 
little  West. 

"  '  Indeed  I  do,'  replied  his  boy-companion. 

"  '  Then  you  may  ride  alone,'  exclaimed  the 
young  aspirant,  leaping  to  the  ground.  '  I  mean 
to  be  a  painter,  and  be  a  companion  of  kings  and 
emperors.  I  '11  not  ride  with  one  willing  to  be  a 
tailor ! '  » 

At  the  age  of  sixteen,  it  was  determined  that 
Benjamin  should  become  a  painter.  The  pursuit 
of  such  an  art  was  not  in  accordance  with  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  Quakers.  A  meeting  was  called  and 
a  consultation  held.  One  of  the  assembly  arose 
and  said :  "  God  hath  bestowed  on  this  youth  a 
genius  for  Art;  shall  we  question  His  wisdom? 


102  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

I  see  the  "Divine  hand  in  this.  "We  shall  do  well  to 
sanction  the  art  and  encourage  this  youth."  The 
women  of  the  assembly  then  rose  up  and  kissed 
the  young  aspirant:  the  men,  one  by  one,  laid 
their  hands  on  his  head,  and  thus  "  Benjamin 
"West  was  solemnly  consecrated  to  the  service  of 
the  Great  Art." 

Young  West  now  went  to  Philadelphia,  in  order 
that  he  might  pursue  his  studies  with  the  advan- 
tages which  that  city  afforded.  He  had  free 
access  to  all  the  pictures.  In  the  intervals  of  his 
portait  painting,  he  made  copies  of  celebrated  pic- 
tures, especially  of  a  Murillo  in  Governor  Hamil- 
ton's collections.  A  Saint  Ignatius  was  next  copied 
with  enthusiasm.  His  application  now  became  in- 
tense, and  the  result  was  an  attack  of  sickness. 
"While  stretched  upon  his  sick  bed  in  a  darkened 
room,  the  light  entering  only  through  the  cracks 
in  the  window-shutters,  an  incident  occurred  which 
illustrates  the  young  artist's  keen  powers  of  rea- 
soning and  observation. 

"As  he  was  lying  in  bed,  slowly  recovering 
from  a  fever,  he  was  surprised  to  see  the  form  of  a 
white  cow  enter  at  one  side  of  the  roof,  and,  walk- 
ing over  the  bed,  gradually  vanish  at  the  other. 
The  phenomenon  surprised  him  exceedingly,  and 
he  feared  that  his  mind  was  impaired  by  his  dis- 
ease, which  his  sister  also  suspected,  when,  on  en- 
tering to  inquire  how  he  felt  himself,  he  related  to 
her  what  he  had  seen.  She  soon  left  the  room, 
and  informed  her  husband,  who  accompanied  her 


BENJAMIN   WEST,    THE   ARTIST.  103 

back  to  the  apartment;  and  as  they  were  both 
standing  near  the  bed,  West  repeated  the  story, 
exclaiming  that  he  saw,  at  the  very  moment  in 
which  he  was  speaking,  several  little  pigs  running 
along  the  roof.  This  confirmed  them  in  the  appre- 
hension- of  his  delirium,  and  they  sent  for  a  physi- 
cian ;  but  his  pulse  was  regular,  the  skin  moist  and 
cool,  the  thirst  abated,  and,  indeed,  everything 
about  the  patient  indicated  convalescence.  Still, 
the  painter  persisted  in  his  story,  and  assured  them 
that  he  then  saw  the  figures  of  several  of  their 
mutual  friends  passing  on  the  roof,  over  the  bed, 
and  that  he  even  saw  fowls  picking,  and  the  very 
stones  of  the  street.  All  this  seemed  to  them  very 
extraordinary,  for  their  eyes,  not  accustomed  to  the 
gloom  of  the  chamber,  could  discover  nothing ; 
and  the  physician  himself,  in  despite  of  the  symp- 
toms, began  to  suspect  that  the  convalescent  was 
really  delirious.  Prescribing,  therefore,  a  com- 
posing mixture,  he  took  his  leave,  requesting  Mrs. 
Clarkson  and  her  husband  to  come  away  and  not 
disturb  the  patient.  After  they  had  retired,  the 
artist  got  up,  determined  to  find  out  the  cause  of 
the  strange  apparitions  which  had  so  alarmed  them 
all.  In  a  short  time  he  discovered  a  diagonal  knot- 
hole in  one  of  the  window-shutters,  and  upon 
placing  his  hand  over  it,  the  visionary  paintings  on 
the  roof  disappeared.  This  confirmed  him  in 
an  opinion  that  he  began  to  form,  that  there  must 
be  some  simple  natural  cause  for  what  he  had 
seen,  and  having  thus  ascertained  the  way  in 


104  MEN   WHO   HATE   lilSEN. 

which  it  acted,  he  called  his  sister  and  her  husband 
into  the  room,  and  explained  it  to  them.  He  prof- 
ited by  this  investigation ;  made  a  box  with  one  01 
its  sides  perforated,  and  thus,  without  ever  having 
heard  of  the  invention,  contrived  a  camera  obscura. 
From  Philadelphia  West  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  remained  during  a  period  of  eleven 
months,  industriously  pursuing  his  profession — 
working  at  portraits  for  his  support,  and  in  such 
intervals  as  he  could  secure,  laboring  with  un- 
diminished  zeal  and  enthusiasm  at  original  com- 
positions. His  successes  now  determined  him  to 
visit  Italy.  Although  almost  self-taught,  and  with 
no  advantages  in  the  way  of  fortune  or  birth, 
young  West  had  been  more  fortunate,  had  ad- 
vanced more  smoothly  on  the  road  to  fame  and 
position,  than  is  common  with  those  who  essay 
the  paths  of  ambition.  His  genius  had  been  re- 
cognized from  the  beginning ;  friends  had  not 
withheld  their  aid  or  countenance ;  he  had  even 
succeeded  in  accumulating  means  sufficient  for  his 
contemplated  visit  to  the  classic  shores  of  Italy. 
Among  the  earliest  of  his  friends  was  the  father  of 
the  immortal  General  Wayne.  This  gentleman 
saw  the  first  crude-sketches  of  the  boy,  and  pur- 
chased some  of  his  drawings.  A  Mr.  Pennington 
also  encouraged  and  patronized  the  lad ;  and  when 
he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  he  there  experienced 
no  lack  of  supporters  and  friends.  When  he  de- 
termined to  sail  for  Italy,  he  was  engaged  upon  the 
portrait  of  Mr.  Kelly,  a  merchant  of  New  York. 


BENJAMIN   WEST,    THE   ARTIST.  105 

To  this  gentleman  he  mentioned  his  plan,  who  ap- 
proved of  it,  and  gave  him  a  letter  to  his  agents  in 
Philadelphia,  from  which  place  he  intended  to  sail. 
West  presented  the  letter,  and  was  surprised  to 
find  that  it  contained  an  order  for  fifty  guineas — 
"  a  present  to  aid  in  his  equipment  for  Italy." 
These  instances  prove  that  West  did  not  experi- 
ence that  neglect  and  poverty,  which  so  frequent- 
ly cloud  the  dawning  efforts  of  genius. 

West  embarked  in  1760;  reached  Leghorn  in 
safety,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Rome,  which  he 
entered  on  the  10th  of  July,  1760.  With  regret 
it  must  be  said  that  he  never  returned  to  America. 

Among  West's  letters  of  introduction  was  one 
,  to  Cardinal  Albani,  a  great  connoisseur,  although 
nearly  blind.  An  amusing  anecdote  is  related  of 
his  interview  with  this  personage.  The  Cardinal 
passed  his  hand  over  the  face  of  the  young  artist, 
in  order  to  judge  of  his  features. 

"  This  young  savage,"  said  he,  "  has  good  fea- 
tures ;  but  what  is  his  complexion  ?  Is  he  black  or 
white  ?  " 

The  gentleman  who  introduced  West  replied 
that  he  was  "  very  fair." 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  the  Cardinal ;  "  as  fair  as  I 
am?" 

The  interrogation  caused  no  little  mirth,  for  the 
Cardinal  was  not  remarkable  for  his  beauty  in  this 
particular. 

West  remained  three  years  in  Italy,  visiting 
Florence,  Bologna,  and  Venice,  and  everywhere 
5* 


106  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

meeting  the  most  gratifying  encouragement,  and 
the  amplest  recognition  of  his  genius.  He  now 
made  his  preparations  for  returning  to  America, 
but  first  determined  to  visit  England,  where  he  ar- 
rived in  August,  1763.  In  London  he  found  so 
much  encouragement,  that,  contrary  to  his  first  in- 
tention, he  determined  to  settle  there.  He  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  Nelson 
the  landscape  painter,  Dr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Burke, 
and  other  distinguished  personages  in  that  age  of 
great  men  :  he  was  also  introduced  to  the  young 
king  George  III.,  who  commanded  him  to  paint 
The  Departure  of  Regulus.  He  became  establish- 
ed in  popular  favor  almost  immediately.  Com- 
missions poured  in  upon  him.  His  rank,  as  among 
the  first  of  the  living  historical  painters,  became 
everywhere  conceded.  Lord  Rockingham  offered 
the  successful  artist  three  thousand  five  hundred 
a-year,  if  he  would  undertake  to  embellish  his 
family  mansion  with  pictures.  West  declined.  He 
wished  to  keep  before  the  public. 

Prior  to  his  departure  from  America,  he  had 
won  the  affections  of  a  young  lady  of  the  name  of 
Shewell.  His  position  was  now  secured,  and  he 
desired  to  make  her  his  wife.  At  first  he  purposed 
to  return  to  America  with  the  object  of  effecting 
the  marriage,  but  this  was  prevented  by  his  father, 
who  took  the  bride  to  England,  where  the  mar- 
riage was  consummated,  West  then  being  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age. 

In  1768,  West,  in  conjunction  with  Sir  Joshua 


BENJAMIN'    WEST,    TIIE   AliTIST.  107 

Reynolds  and  the  King,  established  the  Royal 
Academy.  Sir  Joshua  was  the  first  president, 
but,  after  his  death,  West  was  unanimously  elected 
to  that  honorable  position,  which  he  held  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

We  cannot,  in  this  brief  sketch,  attempt  to 
dwell  upon  the  various  productions  of  West's  pro- 
lific pencil.  His  Death  of  Wolfe^  one  of  his  earlier 
efforts,  achieved  a  world-wide  reputation,  not 
only  as  a  work  of  art,  but  as  exhibiting  a  broad 
innovation  on  the  customs  and  usages  of  artists. 
Up  to  that  period,  it  had  been  customary  to  cos- 
tume the  characters  in  modern  heroic  pieces  in  the 
flowing  robes  of  ancient  Greek  and  Roman  heroes. 
West  rejected  the  teaching,  and  in  spite  of  many 
remonstrances,  he  depicted  the  characters  in  this 
celebrated  picture  in  the  actual  dress  of  the  time. 
The  result  justified  the  attempt.  It  was  a  success. 
Even  Reynolds,  who  had  resolutely  opposed  the 
innovation,  exclaimed,  when  he  saw  the  painting, 
"West  has  conquered.  I  retract.  This  picture 
will  occasion  a  revolution  in  art."  The  King's 
admiration  for  the  artist  was  almost  unbounded. 
He  gave  West  an  order  for  painting  thirty  grand 
pictures,  illustrative  of  revealed  religion,  for  a  new 
chapel  at  Windsor  Castle.  West  designed  them 
all,  and  completed  twenty-eight.  "A  work  so 
varied,  so  extensive  and  so  noble,  was  never  under- 
taken by  any  painter ; "  but  when  insanity  clouded 
the  mind  of  the  king,  West  was  neglected,  and 
^he  series  were  discontinued.  But  our  artist,  in 


108  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

losing  royal  patronage,  still  retained  the  favor  of 
the  public.  He  never  lacked  commissions ;  and  as  he 
labored  diligently  and  with  earnestness,  the  num- 
ber of  his  productions  were  immense.  It  has 
been  stated,  that  to  exhibit  all  his  works  it  would 
take  a  gallery  four  hundred  feet  long,  fifty  in 
breadth,  and  forty  in  height.  The  sums  that  he 
received  were  large,  not  less  in  the  aggregate, 
during  his  residence  in  England,  than  $500,000. 

In  December,  1817,  occurred  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Y/est,  and  three  years  later,  in  the  eighty-second 
year  of  his  age,  the  artist  departed  this  life.  He  was 
buried  with  great  pomp  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 

"  The  last  illness  of  Mr.  West,"  says  Mr.  Gait, 
"  was  slow  and  languishing.  It  was  rather  a  ger- 
eral  decay  of  nature  than  any  specific  malady; 
and  he  continued  to  enjoy  his  mental  faculties  in 
perfect  distinctness  upon  all  subjects  as  long  as  the 
powers  of  articulation  could  be  exercised.  To  his 
merits  as  an  artist  and  a  man  I  may  be  deemed 
partial,  nor  do  I  wish  to  be  thought  otherwise.  I 
have  enjoyed  his  frankest  confidence  for  many 
years,  and  received  from  his  conversation  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  more  valuable  species  of  instruction, 
relative  to  the  arts,  than  books  alone  can  supply 
to  one  who  is  not  an  artist.  While  I  therefore 
admit  that  the  partiality  of  friendship  may  tincture 
my  opinion  of  his  character,  I  am  yet  confident 
that  the  general  truth  of  the  estimate  will  be  ad- 
mitted by  all  who  knew  the  man,  or  are  capable 
to  appreciate  the  merits  of  his  works. 


BENJAMIN    WEST,    THE   AKTIST.  109 

"  In  his  deportment  Mr.  West  was  mild  and 
considerate ;  his  eye  was  keen,  and  his  mind  apt ; 
but  he  was  slow  and  methodical  in  his  reflections, 
and  the  sedateness  of  his  remarks  must  often,  in 
his  younger  years,  have  seemed  to  strangers  sin- 
gularly at  variance  with  the  vivacity  of  his  look. 
That  vivacity,  however,  was  not  the  result  of  any 
particular  animation  of  temperament ;  it  was  rather 
the  illuminations  of  his  genius;  for,  when  his 
features  were  studiously  considered,  they  appeared 
to  resemble  those  which  we  find  associated  with 
dignity  of  character  in  the  best  productions  of  art. 
As  an  artist,  he  will  stand  in  the  first  rank ;  his 
name  will  be  classed  with  those  of  Michael  Angelo 
and  Raffaelle ;  but  he  possessed  little  in  common 
with  cither.  As  the  former  has  been  compared  to 
Homer  and  the  latter  to  Virgil,  in  Shakspeare  we 
shall  perhaps  find  the  best  likeness  to  the  genius 
of  Mr.  West.  He  undoubtedly  possessed  but  in  a 
slight  degree  that  energy  and  physical  expression 
of  character  in  which  Michael  Angelo  excelled, 
and  in  a  still  less  degree  that  serene  sublimity 
which  constitutes  the  charm  of  Raftaelle's  great 
productions ;  but  he  was  their  equal  in  the  fullness, 
the  perspicuity,  and  the  propriety  of  his  composi- 
tions. In  all  his  great  works,  the  scene  intended 
to  be  brought  before  the  spectator  is  represented 
in  such  a  manner  that  the  imagination  has  noth- 
ing to  supply.  The  incident,  the  time,  and  the 
place  are  there  as  we  think  they  must  have  been  ; 
nml  it  is  this  wonderful  force  of  conception  which 


110  MEN   WHO   IIAYE   KISEN. 

renders  the  sketches  of  Mr.  West  so  much  more 
extraordinary  than  his  finished  pictures.  In  the 
finished  pictures  we  naturally  institute  comparisons 
in  coloring,  and  in  beauty  of  figure,  and  in  a  thou- 
sand details  which  are  never  noticed  in  the  sketches 
of  this  illustrious  artist ;  but,  although  his  powers 
of  conception  were  so  superior,  equal  in  their  ex- 
cellence to  Michael  Angelo's  energy  or  Rafaelle's 
grandeur,  still,  in  the  inferior  departments  of  draw- 
ing and  coloring  he  was  one  of  the  greatest  artists 
of  his  age.  It  was  not,  however,  till  late  in  life 
that  he  executed  any  of  those  works  in  which  he 
thought  the  splendor  of  the  Venetian  school  might 
be  judiciously  imitated.  At  one  time  he  intended 
to  collect  his  works  together,  and  to  form  a  gen- 
eral exhibition  of  them  all.  Had  he  accomplished 
this,  the  greatness  and  versatility  of  his  talents 
would  have  been  established  beyond  all  contro- 
versy; for  unquestionably  he  was  one  of  those 
great  men  whose  genius  cannot  be  justly  estimated 
by  particular  works,  but  only  by  a  collective  in- 
spection of  the  variety,  the  extent,  and  the  num- 
ber of  their  productions." 


ASTOK,  THE  MILLIOISTAIEE. 

IN  July,  1763,  the  worthy  and  profound  bailiff  of 
the  village  of  Waldrop,  near  Heidelberg,  in  the 
duchy  of  Baden,  had  a  son  born  unto  him.  He 
had  had  several  sons,  but  this  particular  one  was 
designated  John  Jacob,  two  names  with  wonder- 
ful opposite  significations.  John  is  one  of  your 
soft,  gentle  names,  full  of  urbanity,  with  a  touch 
of  dignity ;  it  means  gracious,  and  would  suit  a 
condescending  monarch  well.  Jacob,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  just  the  name  for  a  money-maker ;  it  is 
quite  a  pecuniary  name.  The  wealth  of  Laban  of 
old  consisted  of  flocks ;  and  Jacob  manifested  as 
much  adroitness  in  the  accumulation  of  these  as 
in  the  supplanting  of  Esau.  Jacob  means  a  sup- 
planter;  that  is,  one  who  trips  up  somebody's 
heels  and  takes  his  place.  John  Jacob  Astor 
began  life  with  auguries  of  success.  He  was  a 
German  ;  had  a  worthy,  cautious,  and  wise  father, 
who  did  not  spare  him  of  good  advice,  and  equally 
good  example.  Ths  Germans,  like  the  Scotch, 


112  MEN    WHO   HATE   KISEN". 

fire  brought  up  with  a  predisposition  for  emigra- 
tion. One  of  the  German  tendencies  is  to  leave 
home.  Preparatory  to  departing  from  the  place 
of  his  nativity,  John  Jacob  Astor  had  been  in- 
structed in  what  was  right  and  wrong  in  a  worldly 
sense ;  so  that,  when  he  packed  up  his  scanty 
wardrobe  and  took  leave  of  Waldrop,  he  deter- 
mined that  honesty,  industry,  and  total  abstinence 
from  the  immoral  practice  of  gambling,  should 
mark  his  conduct  through  life.  At  eighteen  years 
of  age  John  Jacob  steered  his  course  for  London, 
where  he  had  a  brother  resident.  With  a  few 
wearables  in  his  bundle — coarse  home-made  clothes, 
blue  cap,  keel,  and  heavy  hobnailed  shoes — he 
landed  in  the  great  city.  He  had  two  brothers 
who  had  emigrated.  One  was  a  musical  instru- 
ment maker  in  London,  the  other  a  butcher  in  New 
York ;  but  he  does  not  seem  to  have  thriven  under 
the  auspices  of  the  brother  in  Britain,  during  the 
three  years  that  he  remained  in  England.  This 
residence  was  of  advantage  to  him,  however,  for 
he  acquired  the  English  tongue,  which  was  indis- 
pensable to  him  in  his  new  sphere  of  action. 

The  revolutionary  war  had  just  ceased ;  eight 
years  of  fiery  ordeal  had  been  passed  through ;  the 
Americans  had  attained  independence,  and  the 
hopeful  and  aspiring  youth  of  Europe  were  hasten- 
ing to  the  now  open  ports  of  the  New  World. 
With  various  articles  of  manufacture  as  his  whole 
wealth,  among  the  most  valuable  of  which  were 
seven  flutes,  presented  to  him  by  his  brother,  John 


ASTOE,    THE   MILLIONAIRE.  113 

Jacob  Astor  embarked  in  November,  1784,  as  a 
steerage  passenger  on  board  of  an  emigrant  ship 
bound  for  the  United  States.  The  voyage  was 
long  and  tedious,  the  ship  being  retarded  by  ice 
for  nearly  three  months  in  the  Chesapeake.  Dur- 
ing this  protracted  detention  in  the  river,  the  pas- 
sengers went  on  shore  occasionally,  and  Astor  had 
time  to  form  and  perfect  a  friendship  with  a  young 
countryman  of  his  own,  a  furrier  to  trade,  who 
induced  him  to  turn  his  attention  to  his  art,  and 
generously  offered  to  assist  him  in  the  acquirement 
thereof,  and  to  go  to  New  York  with  him.  When 
he  arrived  at  New  York,  the  young  German  sold 
his  flutes  and  other  property,  and  immediately  in- 
vested the  small  capital  arising  therefrom  in  furs. 
These  he  carried  to  London  and  sold ;  and  then, 
returning  to  New  York,  high  in  hope,  he  appren- 
ticed himself  to  the  fur  trade,  in  Gold-street,  where 
he  commenced  beating  skins.  He  had  not  been 
long  here  until  he  sufficiently  understood  the  trade 
to  embark  in  it  as  a  capitalist ;  and  he  had  at  the 
same  time  manifested  so  much  diligence  and  in- 
dustry as  to  obtain  the  notice  of  Robert  Bowne, 
a  good  old  Quaker,  who  carried  on  an  extensive 
business  in  New  York  as  a  furrier.  Employed  by 
Bowne  as  clerk,  Astor  recommended  himself  so 
highly  by  his  industry  and  probity  as  to  command 
the  respect^f  the  old  Quaker,  and  his  entire  con- 
fidence. In  this  situation  he  made  himself  tho- 
roughly acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  fur 
trade,  coming  in  contact  with  the  agents,  and  ob- 
^ 


114:  MEN    WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

taining  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  methods  and 
profits  of  the  traffic. 

When  the  revolutionary  war  closed,  Oswego, 
Detroit,  Niagara,  and  other  posts,  were  in  the 
hands  of  the  British  ;  and  as  these  were  the  entre- 
pots of  the  western  and  northern  countries,  the 
fur  trade  had  languished  after  their  capture  and 
during  their  detention.  The  traders  had  been 
either  driven  away  or  drafted  into  the  armies; 
the  trappers  had  ranged  themselves  on  either  side 
of  the  political  contention ;  and  the  Indians  ob- 
tained more  fire-water  and  calico  for  the  use  of 
their  mercenary  rifles  and  tomahawks  from  Great 
Britain,  in  this  her  domestic  quarrel  with  the 
colonists,  than  if  they  had  employed  them  on 
beavers  and  squirrels.  After  much  negotiation 
and  surveying,  and  the  advancement  and  considera- 
tion of  claims,  these  posts  were  conceded  to  the 
United  States,  and  Canada  was  open  to  the  fur 
trade.  Astor  had  received  from  his  brother  Harry, 
a  rich  butcher  in  Bowery,  an  advancement  of  a 
few  thousand  dollars;  these  he  had  already  em- 
barked in  the  fur  trade,  in  1794,  and  shortly  after- 
wards the  British  retired  from  the  west  side  of  St. 
Clair,  opening  up  to  the  enterprising  sons  of 
America  the  great  fur  trade  of  the  west.  The 
cautious,  acute  German  saw  that  the  posts  now 
free  would  soon  be  thronged  by  IndTans  eager  to 
dispose  of  the  accumulated  produce  of  several 
years'  hunting,  and  that  the  time  was  now  come 
when  he  was  certain  to  amass  a  large  fortune  by 


ASTOK,    THE   MILLIONAIRE.  115 

the  traffic.  He  immediately  established  agencies, 
over  which  he  exercised  a  sort  of  personal  super- 
intendence, visiting  the  stations  sometimes,  but 
chiefly  devoting  himself  to  the  New  York  busi- 
ness. The  result  verified  the  sagacious  predictions 
of  the  adventurous  trader,  for  in  six  years  he  is 
said  to  have  accumulated  the  enormous  sum  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  This  sum 
was  not  stored  up,  but  invested  in  stock  which 
was  likely  to  yield  large  returns. 

The  British  fur  companies  had,  however,  built 
their  block-forts  at  almost  every  eligible  site  on 
the  rivers  of  the  northern  and  south-western  parts 
of  the  American  continent,  and  were  soon  likely 
to  monopolize  the  whole  of  the  fur  trade,  unless 
some  bold  measures  were  adopted  to  rescue  it 
from  them.  This  Astor  attempted  in  1803, 
by  establishing  the  American  Fur  Company. 
The  hardy  adventurers  who  entered  into  this 
project,  boldly  pushed  their  outposts  far  into 
the  hitherto  unknown  prairie,  and  raised  their 
forts  upon  the  banks  of  yet  unexplored  rivers. 
Tribes  unused  to  see  the  white  man,  and  who 
only  knew  him  through  vague  tradition,  or  in  a 
passing  tale  from  some  visitor  of  another  tribe, 
now  saw  and  knew  hiin,  and  brought  their  abun- 
dance of  beaver,  otter,  and  buffalo  skins,  and  laid 
them  at  his  feet  for  muskets,  powder,  and  fire- 
water. 

If  there  is  a  genius  in  money-making,  Astor 
surely  possessed  it.  He  had  that  insatiable  thirst 


116  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

peculiar  to  genius — that  desire  that  expands  and 
rises  with  success.  The  American  Fur  Company 
was  no  sooner  established  and  in  operation  than 
he  cast  his  sagacious,  cunning  little  eyes  towards 
the  region  stretching  from  the  Rocky  Mountains 
to  the  ocean.  He  proposed  to  the  United  States 
government  the  establishment  of  a  line  of  forts 
along  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  011  the 
Columbia  river,  in  order  to  take  from  the  hands  of 
the  British  all  facilities  for  establishing  a  trade 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  project  was 
agreed  to;  and,  in  1810,  sixty  men,  under  the 
command  of  a  hardy  and  adventurous  leader  (W. 
P.  Hunt),  established  the  first  post  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia,  which  took  its  designation  of 
Astoria  from  the  projector  of  the  scheme.  This 
became  the  germ  of  the  budding  State  of  Oregon. 
Then  commenced  a  series  of  operations  on  a  scale 
altogether  beyond  anything  hitherto  attempted  by 
individual  enterprise.  The  history  is  full  of 
wildest  romance ;  and  the  chaste  pen  of  Irving  has 
wo\en  the  wonderful  incidents  into  a  charmiup- 

«J> 

narrative.  We  cannot  even  glance  at  it  in  this 
brief  memoir.  The  whole  scheme  was  the  offspring 
of  a  capacious  mind ;  and  had  the  plans  of  Mi*. 
Astor  been  faithfully  carried  out  by  his  associates, 
it  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  eminently  success- 
ful. But  the  enterprise  soon  failed.  During  the 
Avar  a  British  armed  sloop  captured  Astoria,  and 
the  British  fur  traders  entered  upon  the  rich  field 
which  Mr.  Astor  had  planted,  and  reaped  the 


ASTOE,    THE   MILLIONAIRE.  117 

golden  harvest.  When  the  war  had  ended,  and 
Astoria  was  left  within  the  domain  of  the  United 
States  by  treaty,  Mr.  Astor  solicited  the  govern- 
ment to  aid  him  in  recovering  his  lost  possessions. 
Aid  was  withheld,  and  the  grand  scheme  of  open- 
ing a  highway  across  the  continent,  with  a  con 
tinuous  chain  of  military  and  trading  posts,  which 
Mr.  Astor  laid  before  President  Jefferson,  became 
a  mere  figment  of  history,  over  which  sound 
statesmen  soon  lamented. 

From  the  period  of  the  establishment  of  the 
American  Fur  Company,  Mr.  Astor  had  not  only 
covered  an  immense  tract  of  inland  country  and 
coast  with  the  depots  of  his  wealth,  but  he  had 
also  multiplied  the  number  of  his  ships  until  they 
exceeded  the  marine  of  some  of  the  smaller  Euro- 
pean States.  He  had  ships  freighted  with  furs 
trading  to  the  ports  of  France,  England,  Germany, 
and  Russia,  and  carrying  peltries  to  Canton, 
whence  they  came  laden  with  teas,  silks,  spices, 
and  the  other  products  of  the  East.  On  every 
sea,  laden  with  the  richest  cargoes,  and  consigned 
to  every  port  of  note,  were  the  vessels  of  this 
German  lad,  who,  in  1784,  with  only  a  few  flutes 
and  several  other  articles  in  his  chest,  landed  from 
the  steerage  of  an  English  emigrant  ship  upon  the 
quay  of  New  York.  With  the  sagacity  of  a  Frank- 
lin, Astor  purchased  a  good  deal  of  the  land  lying 
round  New  York.  Perceiving  the  rapid  growth  01 
the  city,  he  knew  that  this  land,  prospectively,  was 
of  immense  value,  and  for  a  long  time  he  invested 


118  HEX   WHO    HAVE   RISEN. 

two-thirds  of  his  yearly  income  in  the  purchase  of 
an  estate,  which  he  took  care  never  to  mortgage. 
Through  the  natural  growth  of  .the  city,  the  re- 
turns from  his  real  estate  yearly  increased  till  it 
reached  an  enormous  amount.  Speculating  upon 
the  settlement  of  Iowa,  Missouri,  Wisconsin,  and 
other  parts  of  the  west,  he  purchased  immense 
tracts  at  the  goverment  price,  which,  of  course 
the  settlers  will  be  constrained  to  take  at  an  ad- 
vance. The  labor  of  generations  yet  unborn,  the 
inhabitants  of  nations  yet  unknown,  is  mortgaged 
in  this  way  to  the  descendants  of  John  Jacob 
Astor.  From,  indigence  equal  to  that  of  the  poor 
itinerant  lads  who  perambulate  our  streets  with 
organs,  this  man  rose  to  be  second  only  to  the 
Rothschilds  in  wealth,  in  a  shortness  of  time  almost 
incredible. 

It  must  be  mentioned  to  the  honor  of  this  ple- 
thoric old  Croesus,  however,  that  he  lent  his  aid 
to  many  works  of  public  utility  and  philanthropy ; 
he  gave  350,000  dollars  for  the  foundation  of  a 
library  in  New  York,  the  interest  to  be  expended 
in  the  erection  of  a  building  and  the  employment 
of  agents  for  the  purchase  of  books.  He  also  gave 
a  large  sum  of  money  to  his  native  town,  for  the 
purpose  of  founding  an  institution  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  young,  and  as  a  retreat  for  indigent 
aged  persons.  The  Astor  Library  in  New  York, 
and  the  Astor  House  in  Walldorf,  were  both  open- 
ed in  1854.  The  following  amusing  anecdote  is 
told  of  him,  in  the  double  character  of  a  patron  of 


ASTOK,    TIIE   MILLIONAIRE.  119 

literature  and  parsimonious  money-holder,  which 
appears  to  be  exceedingly  characteristic :  Among 
the  subscribers  to  Audubon's  magnificent  work  on 
ornithology,  the  subscription  price  of  which  was 
]  ,000  dollars  a  copy,  appeared  the  name  of  John 
Jacob  Astor.  During  the  progress  of  the  work, 
(lie  prosecution  of  which  was  exceedingly  expen- 
sive, M.  Audubon,  of  course,  called  upon  several 
of  his  subscribers  for  payments.  It  so  happened 
that  Mr.  Astor  (probably  that  he  might  not  be 
troubled  about  small  matters)  was  not  applied  to 
before  the  delivery  of  all  the  letterpress  and  plates. 
Then,  however,  Audubon  asked  for  his  thousand 
dollars ;  but  he  was  put  off  with  one  excuse  or 
another.  "Ah,  M.  Audubon,"  would  the  owner 
of  millions  observe,  "  you  come  at  a  bad  time ; 
money  is  very  scarce  ;  I  have  nothing  in  bank ;  I 
have  invested  all  my  funds."  At  length,  for  the 
sixth  time,  Audubon  called  upon  Astor  for  his 
thousand  dollars.  As  he  was  ushered  into  the 
presence,  he  found  William  B.  Astor,  the  son,  con- 
versing with  his  father.  No  sooner  did  the  rich 
man  see  the  man  of  art,  than  he  began,  "Ah,  M. 
Audubon,  so  you  have  come  again  after  your  mo- 
ney. Hard  times,  M.  Audubon — money  scarce." 
But  just  then,  catching  an  inquiring  look  from  his 
son,  he  changed  his  tone:  "However,  M.  Audu- 
bon, I  suppose  we  must  contrive  to  let  you  have 
some  of  your  money,  if  possible.  "William,"  he 
added,  calling  to  his  son,  who  had  walked  into  an 
adjoining  parlor,  "have  we  any  money  at  all  in  the 


120  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEtf. 

bank?"  "Yes,  father,"  replied  the  son,  suppos- 
ing that  he  was  asked  an  earnest  question  perti- 
nent to  what  they  had  been  talking  about  when 
the  ornithologist  came  in,  "  we  have  two  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  dollars  in  the  Bank  of  New 
York,  seventy  thousand  in  the  City  Bank,  ninety 
thousand  in  the  Merchants',  ninety-eight  thousand 
four  hundred  in  the  Mechanics',  eighty-three  thou- 
sand  ."  "That'll  do,  that'll  do,"  exclaimed 

John  Jacob,  interrupting  him.  "  It  seems  that 
William  can  give  you  a  check  for  your  money." 

Mr.  Astor  married  shortly  after  his  settlement 
in  America,  and  had  four  children — two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  He  died  on  29th  March,  1848,  at 
his  residence,  Broadway,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

The  singular  life  and  growth  in  wealth  of  John 
Jacob  Astor  offers  many  interesting  reflections. 
There  is  assuredly  scarcely  another  individual  who 
has  contrived  to  accumulate  so  much  of  the  world's 
capital.  The  Rothschilds  and  Barings  have,  it  is 
true,  acquired  magnificent  fortunes  through  usury, 
but  the  process  has  been  infinitely  more  tedious 
than  that  of  Astor.  Their  money  was  acquired 
through  the  exigencies  of  exchequers.  Astor's 
was  gained  in  trade — by  what  may  be  termed  a 
gigantic  system  of  concentration,  through  which 
the  wealth  of  savage  tribes  was  made  to  flow  by 
semi-civilized  agents  into  the  coffers  of  the  priiiie 
mover  of  the  system. 


HUTTON,  THE  BOOKSELLER 

WILLIAM  HUTTOX,  according  to  his  very  inter- 
esting autobiography,  was  born  in  Derby,  Eng- 
land. He  remarks  that  there  were  no  prognosti- 
cations prior  to  his  birth,  except  that  his  father,  a 
day  before,  was  chosen  constable.  But  a  circum- 
stance occurred,  which,  he  believes,  never  had  hap- 
pened before  in  his  family — the  purchase  of  a 
cheese,  price  half  a  guinea,  so  large  as  to  merit  a 
wheel-barrow  to  bring  it  home.  When  about  two 
years  and  a  half  old  he  was  sent  to  Mount  Sorrel, 
where  he  had  an  uncle,  who  was  a  bachelor ;  also 
a  grandmother  who  kept  his  house.  With  this 
uncle,  and  three  crabbed  aunts,  all  single,  who  re- 
sided together  at  Swithland,  about  two  miles  dis- 
tant from  his  uncle's,  he  lived  alternately  for  about 
fifteen  months.  Here  he  was  put  into  breeches ; 
but  he  was  considered  an  interloper,  and  treated 
with  much  ill-nature.  One  of  his  aunts  was  un- 
happily addicted  to  drinking ;  and  he  says,  that 
upon  one  occasion  when  ho  was  out  with  her,  she 
6 


122  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

called  at  an  ale-house  and  got  so  very  tipsy  that 
she  could  neither  stand  nor  walk.  This  was  a 
scene  that  often  occurred,  and  though  he  was  very 
young,  it  seems  to  have  made  such  an  impression 
upon  him  as  to  cause  him  to  look  ever  afterwards 
upon  this  vice  with  disgust  and  abhorrence.  His 
father,  too,  was  so  given  to  the  same  debasing 
habit  that  he  squandered  the  pittance  he  was  able 
to  earn  as  a  journeyman  wool-comber,  while  his 
wife  and  family  were  oftentimes  nearly  starved  for 
want  of  bread.  Between  the  age  of  four  and  six, 
Hutton,  by  some  contrivance  or  other,  was  sent  to 
school,  where  he  was  most  harshly  treated  by  his 
teacher,  who  often  took  occasion  to  beat  his  head 
against  the  wall,  holding  it  by  the  hair,  but  with- 
out being  able  to  drive  any  learning  into  it,  for  he 
hated  all  books  but  those  containing  pictures. 
This  was  the  only  schooling  he  ever  had. 

When  Hutton  was  six  years  old,  consultations 
were  held  about  fixing  him  in  some  employment 
for  the  benefit  of  the  family.  Winding  quills  for 
the  weaver  was  mentioned,  but  this  was  dropped. 
Stripping  tobacco  for  the  grocer,  in  which  he  was 
to  earn  four-pence  a  week,  was  also  proposed ;  but 
it  was  at  last  concluded  that  he  was  too  young  for 
any  employment.  The  year  following,  however 
he  was  placed  in  a  silk  mill  in  the  town  of  Derby, 
where  for  seven  years  he  had  to  work ;  rising  at 
five  in  the  morning,  summer  and  winter ;  submit- 
ting to  the  cane  whenever  his  master  thought  pro- 
per to  make  use  of  it;  the  constant  companion  of 


riUTTOX,    THE   BOOKSELLER,  123 

the  most  rude  and  vulgar  of  the  human  race ; 
never  taught  by  nature,  and  never  wishing  to  be 
taught.  In  the  year  1731,  about  Christmas,  there 
was  a  very  sharp  frost,  followed  by  a  thaw ;  and 
another  frost,  when  the  streets  were  again  glazed 
with  ice.  On  awaking  one  night  it  seemed  day- 
light. Hutton  rose  in  tears,  being  fearful  of  pun- 
ishment, and  went  to  his  father's  bedside  to  ask 
what  was  the  elock.  He  was  told  it  was  about 
six.  He  then  darted  out  in  terror ;  and  from  the 
bottom  of  Fall-street  to  the  top  of  Silkmill  Lane, 
not  200  yards,  he  fell  down  nine  times.  Observ- 
ing no  light  in  the  mill,  he  perceived  it  was  still 
very  early,  and  that  the  reflection  of  the  snow 
into  his  bed-room  window  must  have  deceived 
him.  As  he  was  returning  home  it  struck  two. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1731,  the  youth  was  so 
unfortunate  as  to  lose  his  mother.  After  her 
death  his  father  gave  up  housekeeping,  sold  the 
furniture,  and  spent  the  money — took  lodgings 
for  himself  and  children  with  a  widow,  who  had 
four  of  her  own.  His  mother  dead,  his  father 
continually  at  an  ale-house,  and  himself  among 
stangers,  his  life  was  forlorn  indeed!  He  was 
almost  without  a  home,  nearly  without  clothes, 
and  his  cupboard,  we  need  scarcely  add,  was 
scanty  enough.  At  one  time,  he  fasted  from 
breakfast  one  day  till  noon  the  next,  and  then 
only  dined  upon  flour  and  water  boiled  into  a 
hasty-pudding.  He  was  also  afflicted  with  the 
hooping-cough  and  with  boils,  His  master  at  the 


124:  MEN    WHO    HAVE    EISEX. 

mill  was  very  cruel  to  him ;  he  made  a  severe 
wound  in  his  back  when  beating  him  with  a  cane. 
It  grew  gradually  worse.  In  a  succeeding  punish- 
ment the  point  of  the  cane  struck  the  wound, 
which  brought  it  into  such  a  state  that  mortifica- 
tion was  apprehended.  His  father  was  advised  to 
bathe  him  in  Keddleston  water.  A  cure  was 
effected,  but  he  continued  to  carry  the  scar. 
When  his  seven  years'  servitude  at  the  silk  mill 
had  expired,  it  was  necessary  to  think  of  some 
other  trade.  Hutton  wished  to  be  a  gardener, 
but  his  father  opposed  this,  and  to  save  himself 
expense  and  trouble  turned  him  over  for  another 
term  of  years  to  his  brother,  a  stocking-maker  at 
Nottingham.  On  being  transferred  from  Derby 
to  Nottingham,  he  did  not  find  that  his  condition 
was  much  improved.  His  uncle  acted  in  a  very 
friendly  manner  towards  him,  but  his  aunt  was 
mean  and  sneaking,  and  grudged  him  every  meal 
he  ate.  She  kept  a  constant  eye  upon  the  food 
and  the  feeder.  This  curb  galled  his  mouth  to 
that  degree,  that  he  never  afterwards  ate  at 
another's  table  without  fear.  He  had  also  to  work 
over-hours,  early  and  late,  to  gain  a  trifle  to  clothe 
himself  with ;  but  so  little  was  he  able  to  earn, 
that  during  even  the  severest  part  of  the  winter, 
he  was  obliged  to  be  content  with  a  light  thin 
waistcoat,  without  a  lining ;  as  for  a  coat,  he  could 
not  possibly  get  money  enough  to  purchase  one. 
On  the  12th  of  July,  1741,  the  ill  treatment  he 
received  from  his  uncle  in  the  shape  of  a  brutal 


HTTTTON THE    JIOOKSELLEK. 


'He  had  only  twopence  in  hu  pocket,  a  spacious  world  before  Lim,  and  no  plan  of  operaii 

I'A'.K    1-J... 


HUTTOX,  THE  BOOKSELLER.       125 

flogging,  with  a  birch  broom-handle  of  white 
hazel,  which  almost  killed  him,  caused  him  to  run 
away.  He  was  then  in  his  seventeenth  year,  and 
was  badly  dressed,  nearly  five  feet  high,  and 
rather  of  Dutch  make.  He  carried  with  him  a 
long  narrow  bag  of  brown  leather,  that  would 
hold  about  a  bushel,  in  which  was  packed  up  a 
new  suit  of  clothes ;  also  a  white  linen  bag  which 
would  hold  about  half  as  much,  containing  a  six- 
penny loaf  of  the  coarsest  bread  ;  a  bit  of  butter 
wrapped  in  the  leaves  of  an  old  copy  book  ;  a  new 
Bible  worth  three  shillings  ;  one  shirt  ;  a  pair  of 
stockings  ;  a  sun-dial ;  his  best  w^ig  carefully 
folded  and  laid  at  the  top,  that  by  lying  in  the 
hollowr  of  the,  bag  it  might  not  be  crushed.  The 
ends  of  these  two  bags  being  tied  together,  he 
flung  them  over  his  left  shoulder,  rather  in  the 
style  of  a  cock-fighter.  Being  unable  to  put  his 
hat  into  the  bag,  he  hung  it  to  the  button  of  his 
coat.  He  had  only  twopence  in  his  pocket,  a 
spacious  world  before  him,  and  no  plan  of  opera- 
tion. He  carried  neither  a  light  heart  nor  a  light 
load ;  and  all  that  was  light  about  him  was  the 
sun  in  the  heavens  and  the  money  in  his  pocket. 
He  steered  his  course  to  Derby,  and  near  to  that 
town  he  slept  in  a  field.  The  next  morning  he 
arrived  at  Litchfield,  and  espying  a  barn  in  a  field, 
he  thought  it  would  afford  him  a  comfortable 
shelter;  on  approaching  it,  however,  and  trying 
the  door,  he  found  it  was  locked.  He  then  went 
in  search  of  another  lodging,  leaving  his  bags  be- 


126  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEK. 

hind  him ;  to  his  horror,  on  returning  for  them, 
he  discovered  that  they  had  been  stolen.  Terror 
seized  him,  he  roared  after  the  rascal,  but  might 
as  well  have  been  silent,  for  thieves  seldom  come 
at  call.  Running,  roaring,  and  lamenting  about 
the  fields  and  roads  occupied  some  time.  He  was 
too  deeply  plunged  in  distress  to  find  relief  in 
tears.  He  described  the  bags  and  told  the  affair 
to  all  he  met ;  and  from  all  he  found  pity  or  seem- 
ing pity,  but  redress  from  none.  He  saw  his 
hearers  dwindle  away  with  the  summer  twilight, 
and  by  eleven  o'clock  he  found  himself  in  the  open 
street,  left  to  tell  his  mournful  tale  to  the  silent 
night.  It  is  not  easy  to  conceive  a  human  being 
in  a  more  forlorn  situation.  His  finances  were 
nothing  ;  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  world,  and  the 
world  was  a  stranger  to  him;  no  employment, 
nor  likely  to  procure  any ;  he  had  neither  food  to 
eat  nor  a  place  to  rest ;  all  the  little  property  he 
had  upon  earth  had  been  taken  from  him  ;  nay, 
even  hope,  that  last  and  constant  friend  of  the 
unfortunate,  well-nigh  forsook  him.  In  this  miser- 
able state  of  destitution  he  sought  repose  upon 
a  butcher's  block.  Next  day  he  continued  his 
way  to  Birmingham,  and  on  arriving  there  he  was 
much  struck  with  the  bustle  and  alacrity  of  the 
people.  He  little  thought  then,  that  in  the  course 
of  nine  years  he  should  become  a  resident  in  it, 
and  thirty-nine  years  afterwards  its  historian. 
Here  he  made  various  unsuccessful  applications 
for  work.  At  night  he  sat  down  to  rest  upon  the 


HUTTOX,  THE  BOOKSELLER.        127 

iiorth  side  of  the  Old  Cross,  near  Philip  Street — 
the  poorest  of  all  the  poor  belonging  to  that  great 
parish,  of  which,  twenty-seven  years  afterwards, 
he  became  overseer.  He  sat  under  that  roof  a 
silent,  oppressed  object,  where,  thirty-one  years 
afterwards,  he  sat  to  determine  differences  between 
man  and  man.  He  next  day  proceeded  to  Coven- 
try, where  he  slept  at  the  Star  Inn,  not  as  a 
chamber  guest,  but  a  hay-loft  one.  Not  being 
able  to  procure  any  work,  he  then  steered  his 
course  to  Derby  ;  and  finally,  it  was  arranged  that 
he  should  return  to  Nottingham  again,  which  he 
accordingly  did.  His  wretched  and  unhappy 
ramble  had  damped  his  rising  spirit — it  sunk  him 
in  the  eyes  of  his  acquaintance,  and  he  did  not 
recover  his  former  balance  for  two  years.  It  also 
ruined  him  in  point  of  dress,  for  he  was  not  able 
to  re-assume  his  former  appearance  for  a  long  time. 
Hutton  took  a  fancy  to  music,  and  purchased  a 
bell-harp.  This  was  a  source  of  pleasure  during 
many  years.  For  six  months  he  used  every  effort 
that  ingenuity  could  devise  to  bring  something 
like  a  tune  out  of  this  instrument ;  still  his  pro- 
gress was  but  slow.  Like  all  others,  however, 
who  ever  have  succeeded  in  any  art  or  pursuit, 
perseverance  was  his  motto,  and  he  kept  the  fol- 
io whig  couplet  hi  his  memory : 

"  Despair  of  nothing  that  you  would  attain, 
Unwearied  diligence  your  point  will  gain ;" 

and  the  difficulties  that  he  at  first  had  to  contend 
with  soon  vanished. 


128  MEN   WHO    HAVE   RISEN. 

As  soon  as  his  second  apprenticeship  was  corn- 
pleted,  Hutton  continued  with  his  uncle  as  a  jour- 
neyman, in  which  capacity  he  was  able  to  save  a 
little  money.  Having  contracted  a  habit  of  read- 
ing what  books  came  in  his  way,  he  was  now 
enabled  better  to  gratify  this  taste,  by  purchasing 
a  few  works.  Among  others  he  bought  three 
volumes  of  the  "Gentleman's  Magazine,"  which, 
being  in  a  tattered  state,  he  contrived  to  bind. 
As  the  stocking  trade  was  very  bad,  and  would 
not  support  him,  he  contrived,  with  considerable 
difficulty,  to  learn  the  art  of  bookbinding,  and 
after  the  most  devoted  attention  to  it,  he  managed 
to  become  pretty  expert  at  it.  In  the  year  1747 
he  set  out  for  London,  with  the  intention  of  try- 
ing to  gain  his  livelihood  by  his  third  trade.  His 
sister  Catherine  raised  for  him  three  guineas, 
sewed  them  in  his  shirt  collar,  and  he  commenced 
his  arduous  journey  on  Monday  morning,  the  8th 
of  April,  at  three  o'clock.  Not  being  used  to 
walk,  his  feet  were  blistered  with  the  first  ten 
miles.  He  would  not,  however,  succumb  to  the 
pain  and  fatigue  he  experienced,  but  continued  to 
walk  on  until  he  had  got  over  fifty-one  miles. 
On  the  Wednesday  evening  he  arrived  in  London, 
and  took  up  his  residence  at  an  inn  called  the 
"  Horns,"  in  Smithfield.  He  remained  in  London 
a  few  days,  but  without  being  able  to  procure  any 
work,  and,  as  he  was  entirely  friendless,  he  thought 
it  the  most  prudent  thing  he  could  do  to  return 
to  Nottingham.  He  then  took  a  shop  at  South- 


HUTTON,  THE  BOOKSELLER.        129 

well,  which  he  stocked  with  a  quantity  of  old 
books  he  had  contrived  to  buy  with  his  slender 
finances.  As  he  only  attended  at  Southwell  on 
the  market  day,  Saturday,  he  had  to  walk  to  that 
place  through  all  sorts  of  weather ;  setting  out 
about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  opening  shop 
about  ten,  starving  in  it  all  day  upon  bread  and 
cheese  and  half-a-pint  of  ale ;  taking  about  one 
shilling  and  sixpence  or  two  shillings,  and  then, 
trudging  through  the  solitary  night  for  five  hours, 
he  arrived  at  Nottingham  again.  Thus  for  some 
time  he  continued  to  work  at  the  stocking-frame 
during  the  first  five  days  of  the  week,  and  to 
attend  at  Southwell  on  the  Saturday ;  and  al- 
though he  worked  early  and  late,  and  practiced 
the  most  rigid  economy,  he  could  scarcely  get  his 
daily  bread.  Never  despairing  of  success,  he  looked 
out  for  a  shop  in  Birmingham,  and  removed  to 
that  town.  He  had  arranged  with  a  poor  woman 
who  resided  at  No.  6  Bull  Street,  for  part  of  her 
small  shop,  agreeing  to  pay  her  one  shilling  a-week 
for  the  use  of  it.  He  was  also,  through  the  kind- 
ness of  a  clergyman,  enabled  to  make  a  better 
show  than  he  had  hitherto  done  in  point  of  stock. 
This  gentleman  had  a  quantity  of  old  books,  which 
he  let  Hutton  have  upon  his  signing  a  note  to  the 
effect  that  he  would  pay  him  when  he  was  able. 

Hutton  soon  was  able,  and  discharged  the  debt 

accordingly.      "First  creep  and  then   go,"  is  a 

popular  remark.     This  seems   to  have  been  the 

maxim  on  which  the  subject  of  this  memoir  acted. 

9 


130  MEN   WHO    HAVE   EISEN. 

He  could  not  possibly  have  started  in  business 
with  less  means:  we  shall  see  how  he  contrived  to 
get  on.  When  he  first  opened  his  Birmingham 
shop,  everything  around  him  seemed  gloomy  and 
disheartening,  but  he  managed  to  keep  up  his 
spirits,  and  practicing  his  usual  rigid  economy,  he 
saved  during  the  first  year  £20.  By  degrees  his 
business  increased,  and  he  took  larger  premises. 

In  the  year  1755,  Hutton  married  a  young 
woman,  with  whom  he  had  a  dowry  of  £100,  and, 
as  he  had  saved  £200  himself,  he  was  placed  in  a 
situation  to  extend  his  business  by  adding  to  it  the 
sale  of  paper.  He  had  now  gained  a  good  foot- 
ing upon  the  road  to  wealth,  and  he  followed 
it  up  with  such  ardor  and  industry,  that  the  re- 
sults were  splendid  and  triumphant.  In  1772, 
Hutton  was  chosen  one  of  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Court  of  Requests,  to  the  onerous  and  gratui- 
tous duties  of  which  he  devoted  himself  during  a 
period  of  nineteen  years.  In  the  year  1776,  he 
purchased  a  good  deal  of  land,  and  as  he  kept 
adding  to  his  acres,  he  became  a  very  extensive 
landed  proprietor  in  the  course  of  a  few  years. 

We  have,  as  yet,  only  noticed  William  Hutton 
as  the  poor,  miserable,  ill-treated,  ill-fed,  and  ill- 
clad  mill-boy,  weaver,  and  bookseller,  gradually 
making  his  way  through  *  all  sorts  of  hardships,  to 
competency  and  station.  We  have  now  to  speak 
of  him  as  an  author.  In  the  year  1780,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven,  he  published  a  "  History  of 
Birmingham,"  which  has  always  been  looked  upon 


BUTTON,  THE  BOOKSELLER.        131 

as  a  standard  book  of  the  kind.  He  afterwards 
wrote  and  published  the  following  works:  "The 
Journey  to  London ; "  "  The  History  of  Black- 
pool;" "The  Battle  of  Bosworth  Field,  with  a 
Life  of  Richard  III.,  till  he  assumed  the  regal 
power;"  "The  History  of  Derby;"  "The  Bar- 
bers, a  poem;"  "A  History  of  the  Roman  Wall 
which  crosses  the  island  of  Britain,  from  the  Ger- 
man Ocean  to  the  Irish  Sea ;  describing  its  ancient 
appearance  and  present  state."  For  the  purpose 
of  producing  a  correct  work  on  the  last-named 
subject,  Hutton,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
took  a  journey  of  six  hundred  miles  on  foot  for 
the  purpose  of  exploring  the  wall.  In  this  jour- 
ney he  was  accompanied  by  his  daughter  Cathe- 
rine, who  traveled  on  horseback.  She  says,  in  a 
letter  written  to  one  of  her  friends,  "  that  such 
was  the  enthusiasm  of  her  father  with  regard  to 
the  wall,  that  he  turned  neither  to  the  right  nor 
to  the  left,  except  to  gratify  me  with  a  sight  of 
Liverpool.  Windermere  he  saw,  and  Ullswater 
he  saw,  because  they  lay  under  his  feet,  but  noth- 
ing could  detain  him  from  his  grand  object.  On 
our  return,"  she  continues,  "  walking  through 
Ashton,  a  village  in  Lancashire,  a  dog  flew  at  my 
father  and  bit  his  leg,  making  a  wound  about  the 
size  of  sixpence.  I  found  him  sitting  in  the  inn 
at  Newton,  where  we  had  appointed  to  breakfast, 
deploring  the  accident  and  dreading  its  conse- 
quences. They  were  to  be  dreaded.  The  leg 
had  got  a  hundred  miles  to  walk  in  extreme  hot 


132  MEN   WHO    HAVE   KISEtf. 

weather.  I  comforted  my  father.  'Now,'  said 
I,  '  you  will  reap  the  fruit  of  your  temperance. 
You  have  put  no  strong  liquors  or  high  sauces 
into  your  leg  ;  you  eat  but  when  you  are  hungry, 
and  drink  but  when  you  are  thirsty,  and  this  will 
enable  your  leg  to  carry  you  home.'  The  event 
showed  I  was  right.  When  we  had  got  within 
four  days  of  our  journey's  end,  I  could  no  longer 
restrain  my  father.  We  made  forced  marches, 
and  if  we  had  had  a  little  further  to  go  the  foot 
would  fairly  have  knocked  up  the  horse.  The 
pace  he  went  did  not  even  fatigue  his  shoes.  He 
walked  the  whole  six  hundred  miles  in  one  pair, 
and  scarcely  made  a  hole  in  his  stockings." 

IJp  to  the  age  of  eighty-five,  Button  continued 
his  career  as  an  author.  He  still  enjoyed  at  that 
great  age  the  use  of  his  faculties  and  health.  He 
had  now  retired  to  his  country  seat  and  set  up  his 
carriage,  enjoying  himself  in  agricultural  and  in- 
tellectual pursuits.  His  last  years  were  indeed 
all  happiness  and  sunshine,  if  the  morning  of  his 
life,  as  he  observes,  was  gloomy  and  lowering.  At 
the  age  of  ninety,  this  exemplary  man  sunk  into 
the  arms  of  death  from  the  exhaustion  of  old  age. 

PASSAGES   FKOM   THE   AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  WILLIAM 
HUTTON. 

1741.  What  the  mind  is  bent  upon  obtaining, 
the  hancVseldom  fails  in  accomplishing.  I  detested 
the  frame,  as  totally  unsuitable  to  my  temper; 
therefore  I  produced  no  more  profit  than  necessity 


IIUTTOX,    THE   BOOKSELLER.  133 

demanded.  I  made  shift,  however,  with  a  little 
overwork  and  a  little  credit,  to  raise  a  genteel 
suit  of  clothes,  fully  adequate  to  the  sphere  in 
which  I  moved.  The  girls  eyed  me  with  some  at- 
tention ;  nay,  I  eyed  myself  as  much  as  any  of 
them. 

1743.  At  Whitsuntide  I  went  to  see  my  father, 
and  was  favorably  received  by  my  acquaintance. 
One  of  them  played  upon  the  bell-harp.  I  was 
charmed  with  the  sound,  and  agreed  for  the  price, 
when  I  could  raise  the  sum,  half  a  crown. 

At  Michaelmas  I  went  to  Derby,  to  pay  for  and 
bring  back  my  bell-harp,  whose  sound  I  thought 
seraphic.  This  opened  a  scene  of  pleasure  which 
continued  many  years.  Music  was  my  daily  study 
and  delight.  But  perhaps  I  labored  under  greater 
difficulties  than  any  one  had  done  before  me.  I 
could  not  afford  an  instructor.  I  had  no  books, 
nor  could  I  borrow  or  buy  ;  neither  had  I  a  friend 
to  give  me  the  least  hint,  or  put  my  instrument  in 
tune. 

Thus  was  I  in  the  situation  of  a  first  inventor, 
left  to  grope  in  the  dark  to  find  something.  I 
had  first  my  ear  to  bring  into  tune,  before  I  could 
tune  the  instrument ;  for  the  ear  is  the  foundation 
of  all  music.  That  is  the  best  tune  which  best 
pleases  the  ear,  and  he  keeps  the  best  time  who 
draws  the  most  music  from  his  tune. 

For  six  months  did  I  use  every  effort  to  bring 
a  tune  out  of  an  instrument  which  was  so  dread- 
fully out,  it  had  no  tune  in  it.  Assiduity  never 


MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

forsooK  me.     I  was  encouraged  by  a  couplet  I  had 
seen  in  Dyce's  Spelling-book  : 

"  Despair  of  nothing  that  you  would  attain, 
Unwearied  diligence  your  point  will  gain  1 " 

When  I  was  able  to  lay  a  foundation,  the  im- 
provement and  the  pleasure  were  progressive 
Wishing  to  rise,  I  borrowed  a  dulcimer,  made  one 
by  it,  then  learned  to  play  upon  it.  But  in  the 
fabrication  of  this  instrument,  I  had  neither  timber 
to  work  upon,  tools  to  work  with,  nor  money  to 
purchase  either.  It  is  said,  "  Necessity  is  the 
mother  of  invention."  I  pulled  a  large  trunk  to 
pieces,  one  of  the  relics  of  my  family,  but  formerly 
the  property  of  Thomas  Parker,  the  first  Earl  of 
Macclesfield  ;  and  as  to  tools,  I  considered  that 
the  hammer-key  and  the  plyers  belonging  to  the 
stocking-frame,  would  supply  the  place  of  hammer 
and  pincers.  My  pocket-knife  was  all  the  edge- 
tools  I  could  raise ;  a  fork,  with  one  limb,  was 
made  to  act  in  the  double  capacity  of  spring-awl 
and  gimlet. 

I  quickly  was  master  of  this  piece  of  music  ;  for 
if  a  man  can  play  upon  one  instrument  he  can  soon 
learn  upon  any. 

A  young  man,  apprentice  to  a  baker,  happen- 
ing to  see  the  dulcimer,  asked  if  I  could  perform 
upon  it.  Struck  with  the  sound,  and  with  seeing 
me  play  with  what  he  thought  great  ease,  he 
asked  if  I  would  part  with  the  instrument,  and  at 
what  price  ?  I  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and, 
for  sixteen  shillings.  He  gave  it.  I  told  him,  "  If 


IIBTTOX,    THE   BOOKSELLER.  135 

he  wanted  advice,  or  his  instrument  wanted 
tuning,  I  would  assist  him."  "  O  no  ;  there's  not 
a  doubt  but  I  shall  do."  I  bought  a  coat  with  the 
money,  and  constructed  a  better  instrument. 

1746.  An  inclination  for  books  began  to  ex- 
pand ;  but  here,  as  in  music  and  dress,  money  was 
wanting.  The  first  article  of  purchase  was  three 
volumes  of  the  "Gentleman's  Magazine,"  1742, 
3,  and  4.  As  I  could  not  afford,  to  pay  for  bind- 
ing, I  fastened  them  together  in  a  most  cobbled 
style.  These  afforded  me  a  treat.  I  could  only 
raise  books  of  small  value,  and  these  in  worn-out 
bindings.  I  learned  to  patch,  procured  paste, 
varnish,  <fce.,  and  brought  them  into  tolerable 
order  ;  erected  shelves,  and  arranged  them  in  the 
best  manner  I  was  able.  If  I  purchased  shabby 
books,  it  is  no  wonder  that  I  dealt  with  a  shabby 
bookseller,  who  kept  his  working  apparatus  in  his 
shop.  It  is  no  wonder,  too,  if  by  repeated  visits 
I  became  acquainted  with  this  shabby  bookseller, 
and  often  saw  him  at  work ;  but  it  is  a  wonder 
and  a  fact,  that  I  never  saw  him  perform  one  act 
but  I  could  perform  it  myself ;  so  strong  was  the 
desire  to  attain  the  art.  I  made  no  secret  of  my 
progress,  and  the  bookseller  rather  encouraged 
me,  and  for  two  reasons :  I  bought  such  rubbish 
as  nobody  else  would  ;  and  he  had  often  an 
opportunity  o/  selling  me  a  cast-off  tool  for  a 
shilling,  not  worth  a  penny.  As  I  was  below 
every  degree  of  opposition,  a  rivalship  was  out  of 
the  question.  The  first  book  I  bound  was  a  very 


136  MEN    WHO    HAVE   KISEN. 

small  one — Shakspeare's  "  Venus  and  Adonis."  I 
showed  it  to  the  bookseller.  He  seemed  sur- 
prised. I  could  see  jealousy  in  his  eye.  However, 
he  recovered  in  a  moment.  He  had  no  doubt  but 
I  should  break.  He  offered  me  a  worn-down 
press  for  two  shillings,  which  no  man  could  use, 
and  which  was  laid  by  for  the  fire.  I  considered 
the  nature  of  its  construction,  bought  it,  and  paid 
the  two  shillings.  I  then  asked  him  to  favor  me 
with  a  hammer  and  a  pin,  which  he  brought  with 
half  a  conquering  smile  and  half  a  sneer.  I  drove 
out  the  garter-pin,  which,  being  galled,  prevented 
the  press  from  working,  and  turned  another  square, 
which  perfectly  cured  the  press.  He  said  in  anger, 
"  If  I  had  known,  you  should  not  have  had  it." 
However,  I  could  see  he  consoled  himself  with 
the  idea  that  all  must  return  in  the  end.  This 
proved  for  forty-two  years  my  best  binding  press. 
I  now  purchased  a  tolerably  genteel  suit  of  clothes, 
and  was  so  careful  of  them,  lest  I  should  not  be 
able  to  procure  another,  that  they  continued  my 
best  for  five  years.  The  stocking-frame  being 
my  own,  the  trade  being  dead,  the  hosiers  would 
not  employ  me ;  they  could  scarcely  employ  their 
own  frames.  I  was  advised  to  try  Leicester,  and 
took  with  me  half-a-dozen  pair  of  stockings  to 
sell.  I  visited  several  warehouses ;  but,  alas !  all 
proved  blank.  They  would  neither  employ  me, 
nor  give  for  my  goods  anything  near  prime  cost. 
As  I  stood  like  a  culprit  before  a  gentleman  of 
the  name  of  Bennet,  I  was  so  affected  that  I  burst 


1IUTTON,    TilE    BOOKSKLLEE.  137 

into  tears,  to  think  that  I  should  have  served  seven 
years  to  a  trade  at  which  I  could  not  get  bread- 
My  sister  took  a  house,  and,  to  soften  the  rent, 
my  brother  and  I  lodged  with  her. 

1747.  It  had  been  the  pride  of  my  life,  ever 
since   pride   commenced,   to    wear   a  watch.      I 
bought  a  silver  one  for  thirty-five  shillings.     It 
went  ill.     I  kept  it  four  years,  then  gave  that  and 
a  guinea  for  another,  which  went  as  ill.     I  after- 
wards  exchanged  this  for   a  brass   one,   which, 
going  no  better,  I  sold  it  for  five  shillings  ;  and, 
to  complete    the  watch  farce,  I    gave   the    five 
shillings  away,  and  went  without  a  watch  thirty 
years. 

I  had  promised  to  visit  my  father  on  Whitsun 
eve,  at  Derby.  Business  detained  me  till  it  was 
eleven  at  night  before  I  arrived.  Expectation 
had  for  some  time  been  on  the  stretch,  and  was 
now  giving  way.  My  father  being  elevated  with 
liquor,  and  by  my  arrival,  rose  in  ecstacy,  and  gave 
me  the  first  kiss,  and,  I  believe,  the  last,  he  ever 
gave  me. 

This  year  I  began  to  dip  into  rhyme.  The 
stream  was  pleasant,  though  I  doubt  whether  it 
flowed  from  Helicon.  Many  little  pieces  were  the 
produce  of  my  pen,  which  perhaps  pleased ;  how- 
ever, they  gave  no  offence,  for  they  slept  on  my 
shelf  till  the  rioters  burnt  them  in  1791. 

1748.  Every  soul  who  knew  me  scoffed  at  the 
idea  of  my  bookbinding,  except  my  sister,  who 
encouraged  and  aided  me ;  otherwise  I  must  have 


1  38  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

sunk  under  it.  I  considered  that  I  was  naturally 
of  a  frugal  temper ;  that  I  could  watch  every 
penny ;  live  up  a  little ;  that  I  hated  stocking- 
making,  but  not  bookbinding  ;  that  if  I  continued 
at  the  frame,  I  was  certain  to  be  poor ;  and  if  I 
ventured  to  leave  it,  I  could  not  be  so.  My  only 
fear  was  lest  I  should  draw  in  my  friends ;  for  I 
had  nothing  of  my  own.  I  had  frequently  heard 
that  every  man  had,  some  time  or  other  in  his  life, 
an  opportunity  of  rising.  As  this  was  a  received 
opinion,  I  would  not  contradict  it.  I  had,  however, 
watched  many  years  for  the  high  tide  of  my  affairs, 
but  thought  it  never  yet  had  reached  me.  I  still 
pursued  the  two  trades.  Hurt  to  see  my  three 
volumes  of  magazines  in  so  degraded  a  state,  I  took 
them  to  pieces,  and  clothed  them  in  a  superior 
dress. 

1749.  It  was  now  time  to  look  out  for  a  future 
place  of  residence.  A  large  town  must  be  the 
mark,  or  there  would  be  no  room  for  exertion. 
London  was  thought  of,  between  my  sister  and 
me,  for  I  had  no  soul  else  to  consult.  This  was 
rejected  for  two  reasons.  I  could  not  venture  into 
such  a  place  without  a  capital,  and  my  work  was 
not  likely  to  pass  among  a  crowd  of  judges.  My 
plan  was  to  fix  upon  some  market  town,  within  a 
stage  of  Nottingham,  and  open  shop  there  on  the 
market  day,  till  I  should  be  better  prepared  to  be- 
gin the  world  at  Birmingham. 

I  fixed  upon  Southwell  as  the  first  step  of  eleva- 
tion. It  was  fourteen  miles  distant,  and  the  town 


nUTTON,  THE  BOOKSELLER.       139 

as  despicable  as  the  road  to  it.  I  went  over  at 
Michaelmas,  took  a  shop  at  the  rate  of  twenty 
shillings  a-year,  sent  a  few  boards  for  shelves,  a 
few  tools,  and  about  two  hundred  weight  of  trash^ 
which  might  be  dignified  with  the  name  of  books, 
and  worth,  perhaps,  a  year's  rent  of  my  shop.  I 
was  my  own  joiner,  put  up  the  shelves  and  their 
furniture,  and  in  one  day  became  the  most  eminent 
bookseller  in  the  place. 

During  this  rainy  winter,  I  set  out  at  five  every 
Saturday  morning,  carried  a  burden  of  from  three 
pounds'  weight  to  thirty,  opened  shop  at  ten, 
starved  in  it  all  day  upon  bread,  cheese,  and  half- 
a-pint  of  ale,  took  from  one  to  six  shillings,  shut 
up  at  four,  and,  by  trudging  through  the  solitary 
night  and  the  deep  roads  five  hours  more,  I 
arrived  at  Nottingham  at  nine,  where  I  always 
found  a  mess  of  milk  porridge  by  the  fire,  prepared 
by  my  valuable  sister.  Nothing  short  of  a  sur- 
prising resolution  and  rigid  economy  could  have 
carried  me  through  this  scene. 

1750.  Returning  to  Nottingham,  I  gave  warn- 
ing to  quit  at  Southwell,  and  prepared  for  a  total 
change  of  life. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  I  entered  Birmingham  for 
the  third  time,  to  try  if  I  could  be  accommodated 
with  a  small  shop.  If  I  could  procure  any  situa- 
tion, I  should  be  in  the  way  of  procuring  a  better. 
On  the  llth  I  traveled  the  streets  of  Birmingham, 
agreed  with  Mrs.  Dix  for  the  lesser  half  of  her 
shop,  No.  6  in  Bull  Street,  at  one  shilling  a-week ; 


140  MEN    AV1IO    HAVE    lilSEJST. 

and  slept  at  Lit  oilfield  on  my  way  back  to  Not- 
tingham. 

On  May  13th,  Mr.  Rudsdall,  a  dissenting 
minister  of  Gainsborough,  with  whom  my  sister 
had  lived  as  a  servant,  traveling  from  Nottingham 
to  Stamford,  requested  my  company,  and  offered 
to  pay  my  expenses,  and  give  me  eighteen  pence 
a  day  for  my  time.  The  afternoon  Avas  wet  in  the 
extreme.  He  asked  why  I  did  not  bring  my 
great-coat  ?  Shame  forbade  an  answer,  or  I  could 
have  said  I  had  none.  The  water  completely 
soaked  through  my  clothes,  but,  not  being  able 
to  penetrate  the  skin,  it  filled  my  boots.  Arriving 
at  the  inn,  every  traveler,  I  found,  was  wet ;  and 
every  one  produced  a  change  of  apparel  but  me. 
I  was  left  out  because  the  house  could  produce  no 
more.  I  was  obliged  to  sit  the  whole  evening  in 
my  drenched  garments,  and  to  put  them  on  nearly 
as  wet  on  my  return  the  next  morning !  What 
could  I  expect  but  destruction  ?  Fortunately  I 
sustained  no  injury. 

It  happened  that  Mr.  Rudsdall  now  declined 
housekeeping,  his  wife  being  dead.  He  told  my 
sister  that  he  should  part  with  the  refuse  of  his 
library,  and  would  sell  it  to  me.  She  replied, 
"  He  has  no  money."  "  We  will  not  differ  about 
that.  Let  him  come  to  Gainsborough ;  he  shall 
have  the  books  at  his  own  price."  I  walked  to 
Gainsborough  on  the  15th  of  May,  stayed  there 
the  16th,  and  came  back  on  the  17th. 

The  books  were  about  two   hundred  pounds' 


nUTTON,  THE  BOOKSELLER.        141 

weight.  Mr.  Rudsdall  gave  me  his  corn-chest  for 
their  deposit ;  and  for  payment  drew  the  following 
note,  which  I  signed :  "  I  promise  to  pay  to  Am- 
brose Rudsdall,  one  pound  seven  shillings,  when  I 
am  able."  Mr.  Rudsdall  observed,  "You  never 
need  pay  this  note  if  you  only  say  you  are  not 
able."  The  books  made  a  better  show,  and  were 
more  valuable  than  all  I  possessed  beside. 

I  had  now  a  most  severe  trial  to  undergo ;  part- 
ing with  my  friends,  and  residing  wholly  among 
strangers.  May  23d,  I  left  Nottingham,  and  I 
arrived  at  Birmingham  on  the  25th.  Having  little 
to  do  but  look  into  the  street,  it  seemed  singular 
to  see  thousands  of  faces  pass,  and  not  one  that  I 
knew.  I  had  entered  a  new  world,  in  which  I  led 
a  melancholy  life — a  life  of  silence  and  tears. 
Though  a  young  man,  and  of  rather  a  cheerful 
turn,  it  was  remarked  "  that  I  was  never  seen  to 
smile."  The  rude  family  into  which  I  was  cast 
added  to  the  load  of  melancholy. 

My  brother  came  to  see  me  about  six  weeks 
after  my  arrival,  to  whom  I  observed,  that  the 
trade  had  fully  supported  me.  Five  shillings 
a-week  covered  every  expense  —  as  food,  rent, 
washing,  lodging,  &c.  Thus  a  solitary  year  rolled 
round,  when  a  few  young  men  of  elevated  cha- 
racter and  sense  took  notice  of  me.  I  had  saved 
about  twenty  pounds,  and  was  become  more  re- 
conciled to  my  situation.  The  first  who  took  a 
fancy  to  me  was  Samuel  Salte,  a  mercer's  appren- 
tice, who,  five  years  after,  resided  in  London, 


14:2  HEX   WHO    HAVE   KISEN. 

where  he  acquired  £100,000.     He  died  in 
Our  intimacy  lasted  his  life. 

In  this  first  opening  of  prosperity,  an  unfortun- 
ate circumstance  occurred  which  gave  me  great 
uneasiness,  as  it  threatened  totally  to  eclipse  the 
small  prospect  before  me.  The  overseers,  fearful 
I  should  become  chargeable  to  the  parish,  exam- 
ined me  with  regard  to  my  settlement ;  and,  with 
the  voice  of  authority,  ordered  me  to  procure  a 
certificate,  or  they  would  remove  me.  Terrified, 
I  wrote  to  my  father,  who  returned  for  answer, 
"  That  All  Saints,  in  Derby,  never  granted  certi- 
ficates." 

I  was  hunted  by  ill-nature  two  years.  I  re- 
peatedly offered  to  pay  the  levies,  which  was  re- 
fused. A  succeeding  overseer,  a  draper,  of  whom 
I  had  purchased  two  suits  of  clothes,  value  £10, 
consented  to  take  them.  The  scruple  exhibited  a 
short  sight,  a  narrow  principle,  and  the  exultations 
of  power  over  the  defenceless. 

Among  others  who  wished  to  serve  me,  I  had 
two  friends,  Mr.  Dowler,  a  surgeon,  who  resided 
opposite  me,  and  Mr.  Grace,  a  hosier  at  the  Gate- 
way, in  the  High  Street.  Great  consequences 
often  arise  from  small  things.  The  house  adjoin- 
ing that  of  Mr.  Grace's  was  to  be  let.  My  friends 
both  urged  me  to  take  it.  I  was  frightened  at  the 
rent,  eight  pounds.  However,  one  drew,  and  the 
other  pushed,  till  they  placed  me  there.  A  small 
house  is  too  large  for  a  man  without  furniture,  and 
n  small  rent  maybe  too  large  for  an  income  which 


HUTTON,  THE  BOOKSELLER.        143 

has  nothing  certain  in  it  but  the  smallness.  Hav- 
ing felt  the  extreme  of  poverty,  I  dreaded  nothing 
so  much ;  but  I  believed  I  had  seized  the  tide,  and 
I  was  unwilling  to  stop.  Here  I  pursued  business 
in  a  more  elevated  style,  and  with  more  success. 

No  event  in  a  man's  life  is  more  consequential 
than  marriage,  nor  is  any  more  uncertain.  Upon 
this  die  his  sum  of  happiness  depends.  Pleasing 
views  arise,  which  vanish  as  a  cloud ;  because, 
like  that,  they  have  no  foundation.  Circum- 
stances change,  and  tempers  with  them.  Let  a 
man's  prior  judgment  be  ever  so  sound,  he  cannot 
foresee  a  change ;  therefore  he  is  liable  to  deception. 
I  was  deceived  myself,  but,  thanks  to  my  kind  fate, 
it  was  on  the  right  side.  I  found  in  my  wife  more 
than  I  ever  expected  to  find  in  woman.  Just  in 
proportion  as  I  loved  her,  I  must  regret  her  loss. 
If  my  father,  with  whom  I  only  lived  fourteen 
years,  who  loved  me  less,  and  has  been  gone  forty, 
never  is  a  day  out  of  my  thoughts,  what  must  be 
my  thoughts  towards  her,  who  loved  me  as  her- 
self, and  with  whom  I  resided  an  age ! 

1 756.  My  dear  wife  brought  me  a  little  daugh- 
ter, who  has  been  the  pleasure  of  my  life  to  this 
day.  We  had  now  a  delightful  plaything  for  both. 

Robert  Bage,  an  old  and  intimate  friend,  and  a 
paper-maker,  took  me  to  his  inn,  where  wre  spent 
the  evening.  He  proposed  that  I  should  sell  paper 
for  him,  which  I  might  either  buy  on  my  own  ac- 
count, or  sell  on  his  by  commission.  As  I  could 
spare  one  or  tvro  hundred  pounds,  T  chose  to  pur- 


144:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

chase  ;  therefore  appropriated  a  room  for  the  re- 
ception of  goods,  and  hung  out  a  sign — The  Paper 
Warehouse.  From  this  small  hint  I  followed  the 
stroke  forty  years,  and  acquired  an  ample  fortune. 

1763.  We   took   several  pleasurable  journeys; 
among  others,  one   at  Aston,  and  in  a  superior 
style  to  what  we  had  done  before.     This  is  the 
peculiar  privilege  of  us  Birmingham  men:  if  ever 
we  acquire  five  pounds  extraordinary,  we  take  care 
to  show  it. 

1764.  Every  man  has  his  hobby-horse,  and  it  is 
no  disgrace  prudently  to  ride  him.     He  is  the  pru- 
dent man  who  can  introduce  cheap  pleasures  with- 
out impeding  business.     About  ten  of  us,  intimate 
friends,  amused  ourselves  with  playing  at  tennis. 
Entertained  with  the  diversion,  we  erected  a  tennis- 
court,  and  met  on  fine  evenings  for  amusement, 
without  expense.     I  was  constituted  steward  of  our 
little  fraternity.     My  family  continued  their  jour- 
neys, and  were  in  a  prosperous  state. 


FKA^KLIN,  THE  NAYIGATOE. 

SIR  JOHN  FRANKLIN  was  born  in  the  year  1786, 
of  a  respectable  family  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
possessed  for  several  centuries  of  an  estate  and 
position  which  very  probably  gave  them  their 
name  originally.  The  father  of  Sir  John  was  com- 
pelled to  part  with  the  patrimonial  estate,  and 
sent  his  children  into  active  life,  upon  very  slender 
means,  and  without  interest  with  which  to  work 
'their  way  to  distinction. 

John,  the  youngest  of  four  sons,  was  destined  by 
his  father  for  the  Church,  or  for  agricultural  pur- 
suits ;  but  he  showed  so  strong  a  predilection  for 
the  sea,  that  he  was  allowed  to  have  his  way,  and 
entered  the  navy  on  the  1st  of  October,  1800,  at 
the  age  of  fourteen,  on  board  the  Polyphemus, 
sixty-four  gun-ship.  He  was  present  at  the 
action  off  Copenhagen  in  1801.  Immediately 
afterwards,  one  phase  of  his  career  of  exploration 
commenced.  He  was  one  of  the  party  in  the  In- 
vestigator under  his  relative  Captain  Flinders,  and 
10 


146  MEN    V\TIIO   HAVE   RISEN. 

though  only  a,  young  midshipman,  was  personally 
associated  with  his  Commander  in  all  his  explora- 
tions and  survey  of  the  coasts  of  Australia,  and 
suffered  shipwreck  with  him  in  Torres  Straits, 
near  Cato  Bank,  in  August,  1803.  A  worthy 
beginning  it  was  for  that  adventurous  career,  self- 
adopted,  and  nobly  carried  out  in  after  days.  The 
Earl  Cam  den,  an  East  Indiaman,  conveyed  Frank- 
lin home,  and  he  distinguished  himself  highly  even 
on  this  incidental  passage,  aiding  in  the  repulse  of 
the  French  squadron  under  Linois.  Bonaparte  was 
then  contesting  the  seas  most  futilely. 

As  signal-midshipman  in  the  Bellerophon,  Frank- 
lin was  present  at  Trafalgar,  on  the  21st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1805  ;  and  during  the  succeeding  years,  rising 
to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  he  served  at  Flushing, 
and  afterwards  at  New  Orleans  (1814).  During 
the  engagements  at  the  latter  place,  he  command- 
ed some  of  the  boats  of  the  British  squadron 
which  captured  the  strong  gun-boats  of  the  Amer-' 
icans,  after  a  hard  struggle  and  severe  losses.  The 
attempted  siege  ended  unhappily  for  the  British  ; 
to  Franklin,  however,  the  campaign  brought  a 
more  solid  reward,  in  the  shape  of  a  strong  recom- 
mendation for  immediate  promotion.  He  had, 
indeed,  not  only  proved  his  merits  professionally, 
but  he  had  shown  himself  to  be  a  man  of  ready 
resources  in  all  departments  of  action.  He  had, 
in  short,  given  an  indication  of  those  general  and 
superior  abilities  which  afterwards  came  more  fully 
to  light  during  his  arctic  explorations. 


FJRANKLIN,    THE   NAVIGATOR. 

Franklin,  after  serving  in  the  interval  as  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Fourth,  at  length  made  his  debut 
in  the  field  of  Northern  Discovery  in  1818.  At 
this  period,  Captain  David  Buchan,  of  the  Doro- 
thea, 370  tons,  had  been  instructed  to  attempt 
(as  Parry  did  afterwards)  a  direct  northern  passage, 
that  is,  to  and  through  the  very  centre  of  the 
polar  circle ;  and  Franklin,  his  chosen  colleague, 
was  nominated  to  the  command  of  the  Trent,  a 
hired  vessel  of  250  tons.  The  enterprising  navi- 
gators set  sail  in  the  spring  of  the  year  mentioned 
and  made  for  Spitzbergen.  On  arriving  there 
they  endeavored  several  times  to  pass  north- 
wards, but  could  not  get  beyond  latitude  80  deg. 
15  min.,  where  they  were  locked  up  for  three 
weeks  in  the  ice.  They  tried  the  east  coast  of 
Greenland  on  being  released,  but  were  again 
baffled  by  the  ice.  It  gave  worthy  occasion  to  try 
the  patience  and  courage  of  Franklin,  the  dangers 
undergone  being  inconceivably  great.  Buchan 
and  his  colleague  arrived  in  England  in  October, 
1818,  Franklin  having  vainly  sought  permission 
from  his  commanding  officer  to  prosecute  the  voy- 
age alone ;  a  request  very  naturally  denied  him, 
on  account  of  the  injury  which  the  vessels  had  re- 
ceived. 

The  eyes  of  the  British  Government,  as  well  as 
of  all  interested  in  arctic  discovery,  were  now 
fixed  on  Lieutenant  Franklin,  as  a  man  possessed 
of  every  leading  quality  requisite  for  conducting 
these  honorable  and  perilous  northern  explora- 


1-48  MEN    WHO    HAVE   KISEJST. 

tions.  In  1819,  accordingly,  he  was  selected  for 
the  great  enterprise  of  descending  the  Copper- 
mine River,  which,  like  Mackenzie  River,  carries 
a  portion  of  the  waters  of  Arctic  North  America 
into  the  Polar  Ocean,  and  the  course  of  which 
had  never  before  been  specially  investigated. 
The  mouth  of  the  Coppermine  once  reached, 
Franklin  was  directed  to  make  his  Avay  along  the 
vast  and  yet  almost  unknown  line  of  coast  to  the 
westward,  that  is,  towards  Behring's  Straits.  This 
task,  involving  a  guideless  peregrination  of  im- 
mense length,  and  in  a  clime  of  surpassing  severity, 
was  certainly  one  of  the  most  formidable  that 
could  be  undertaken  by  man  ;  but  with  his  admi- 
rable coadjutors,  Lieutenants  Back  and  Hood  and 
Dr.  Richardson,  Franklin  manfully  girded  up  his 
loins  for  the  adventure.  On  the  23d  of  May,  1819, 
he  set  sail  in  a  ship  belonging  to  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  and,  after  narrowly  escaping  ship- 
wreck, crossed  Hudson's  Bay  safely,  and  arrived 
at  York  Factory  on  its  western  shores.  Here  a 
strong  boat  was  built  for  the  party,  and,  on  the 
9th  of  September,  they  began  to  ascend  Hayes 
River,  on  their  inland  route  to  the  Coppermine. 
Seven  hundred  miles  of  river  transit  were  accom- 
plished by  them  at  this  period,  a  feat  rendered 
alike  difficult  and  perilous  by  falls,  rapids,  swamps, 
and  countless  other  obstacles.  A  valuable  chart 
resulted  from  this  part  of  the  journey.  Reaching 
Cumberland  House,  a  station  on  Pine  Island  Lake, 
on  the  close  of  October,  the  setting  in  of  the  ice 


THE  NAVIGATOE.  149 

compelled  Franklin  to  pause  till  January,  when, 
accompanied  by  Back,  and  a  faithful  seaman 
named  Hepburn  (to  whose  fidelity  and  hardihood 
the  whole  party  afterwards  owned  themselves  to 
have  been  more  than  once  indebted  for  their  lives), 
the  commander  moved  westwards  for  another 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  reached  Fort 
Chipewyan  on  the  20th  March.  Another  impor- 
tant inland  chart  was  the  product  of  this  excursion. 
The  station  of  Fort  Chipewyan  is  situated  on  the 
Lake  Athabasca,  into  which  Slave  River  flows 
from  the  Great  Slave  Lake.  The  locality  lies 
towards  the  centre  of  Arctic  America,  or  about 
latitude  110  deg.,  and  was  reached  by  Franklin 
chiefly  by  the  aid  of  dogs  and  sledges.  Many 
interesting  observations  were  made  about  this 
period  by  Franklin,  Back,  Hood,  and  Richardson, 
on  the  Cree,  Chipewyan,  and  Stone  Indians,  and 
on  the  native  features  and  productions  of  the 
country  generally ;  while  Lieutenant  Hood  also 
indefatigably  pursued  a  course  of  meteorogieax 
and  other  scientific  inquiries.  But  attention  must 
be  confined  here  mainly  to  the  contributions  of 
Franklin  to  geognostic  science. 

Ah1  this  while  Franklin  was  drawing  near  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  course  of  the  Coppermine, 
and,  being  joined  at  Fort  Chipewyan  in  July  by 
Richardson  and  Hood,  he  entertained  strong 
hopes  of  wintering  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  men- 
tioned, the  grand  object  of  his  enterprise.  Hav- 
ing obtained  three  canoes  and  various  supplies  of 


150  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

food  and  ammunition,  the  whole  party  started 
briskly  for  the  north,  along  Slave  River.  Six 
Englishmen  (Mr.  Wentzel  of  the  Fur  Company 
having  joined  the  corps),  seventeen  hired  Canadian 
voyageurs  (all  French  or  half-breeds),  and  three 
interpreters,  constituted,  at  this  period,  the  expe- 
dition ;  and  a  considerable  number  of  Indians, 
also,  were  engaged  as  guides  and  hunters,  under 
the  leadership  of  a  chief  named  Akaitcho.  All 
went  well  for  a  tune ;  deer  were  shot  plentifully  ; 
but  as  the  party  moved  northwards  the  hardships 
of  the  route  grew  severe,  and  food  more  scarce. 
All  that  Franklin  could  accomplish  that  season 
was  merely  to  behold  the  Coppermine  River. 
Fain  would  he  have  borne  all  risks,  and  attempted 
its  descent,  but  Akaitcho  told  him  that  he  would 
do  so  only  to  perish.  "  I  will  send  some  of  my 
young  men  with  you  if  you  persist  in  advancing, 
but  from  the  moment  that  they  embark  in  your 
canoes  I  and  my  relatives  shall  lament  them  as 
dead."  The  English  commander  was  therefore 
compelled  to  settle  in  winter  quarters,  which  he 
did  at  a  place  termed  Fort  Enterprise,  near  the 
head  of  the  Coppermine,  and  distant  five  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Fort  Chipewyan.  The  ad- 
venturers had  now  advanced  about  one  thousand 
five  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  in  the  course  of 
1820,  into  the  heart  of  these  obscure  and  perilous 
regions. 

As  strong  a  winter-house  of  wood  being  erected 
as  possible,  the  party  passed  their  time  for  some 


FRANKLIN,  THE   NAVIGATOR.  151 

months  mainly  in  shooting  and  fishing.  But, 
though  the  reindeer  were  pretty  numerous,  and 
nearly  two  hundred  fell  before  the  hunters,  the 
influx  of  famished  Indians  to  the  station  greatly 
lessened  the  stores  and  curtailed  the  provisions. 
The  ordinary  condition  of  the  poor  native  people 
may  be  guessed  from  their  own  words.  Some- 
times they  generously  gave  the  whole  of  their 
own  game  to  the  strangers,  saying,  "  We  are  used 
to  starvation,  you  are  not."  At  this  time  fresh 
supplies  of  amunition  and  other  articles  were 
indispensable  to  the  progress  of  the  enterprise, 
and  Back  undertook  a  foot  journey  to  Fort  Chip- 
ewyan  to  procure  what  was  requisite.  Perhaps 
his  passage  of  the  intervening  five  hundred  miles, 
in  the  midst  of  an  arctic  winter,  when  noon  is 
almost  midnight,  formed  one  of  the  most  severe 
trials  of  this  whole  journey.  At  a  distance  of  a 
few  feet  from  the  house  fires,  the  thermometer 
stood  at  fifteen  below  zero,  and  we  may  thus  con- 
jecture what  Back  had  to  endure  while  camping 
nightly  out  of  doors.  He  and  his  comrades  were 
even  exposed  to  painful  changes  of  temperature, 
causing  a  French-Canadian  to  say,  "  It  is  terrible, 
to  be  frozen  and  sun-burnt  in  one  day."  The 
heavy  snow-shoes,  too,  galled  their  feet  and  ankles, 
till  they  bled  profusely.  Nevertheless,  Back  man* 
aged  to  return  safely  to  Fort  Enterprise,  with 
four  sledges  laden  with  needful  goods  and  supplies. 
Others  followed,  and  still  more  were  promised  for 
prospective  necessities. 


152  MEN   WHO   HAVE   BISEN. 

In  the  beginning  of  July,  1821,  tne  party  ap- 
proached and  began  to  descend  the  Coppermine 
River,  two  frail  canoes  being  their  sole  means  of 
conveyance.  At  the  outset,  Akaitcho  and  his  In- 
dians accompanied  them,  and,  by  hunting  on 
shore,  kept  up  a  decent  supply  of  food.  After  a 
painful  route  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-four 
miles,  one  hundred  and  seventeen  of  which  were 
accomplished  by  dragging  the  canoes  over  land, 
Franklin  at  length  found  himself  (19th  July)  on 
the  shores  of  the  great  Northern  Ocean.  The 
Indians  had  now  gone  back,  partly  alarmed  by  a 
meeting  with  a  small  Esquimaux  party,  their 
enemies.  Provisions  now  ran  low  with  the  expe- 
dition, and  the  Canadian  voyageurs  expressed 
great  fears  at  embarking  on  an  unknown  sea  in 
frail  bark  canoes.  But,  after  having  made  all  pos- 
sible preparations  (through  the  returning  Indians 
and  Mr.  Wentzel)  for  obtaining  food  at  different 
land  stations  on  the  way  back,  Franklin  boldly 
launched  on  the  polar  main,  and  moved  west- 
wards, or  in  the  direction  of  Behring's  Straits. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on  the  toils  and  dangers 
of  the  subsequent  sea  voyage.  They  advanced  only 
six  degrees  and  a  half  along  the  coast,  in  a  direct 
line,  though  bays,  and  gulfs,  and  islands  lengthened 
their  actual  route  to  six  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 
Necessities  of  all  kinds  at  length  began  to  press 
upon  the  party,  and  compelled  Franklin  to  turn 
back.  He  resolved  to  make  his  way  to  Fort 
Enterprise  by  a  river  which  had  been  passed  on 


FKANKLIN,  THE   NAVIGATOE.  153 

his  advance,  and  which  he  had  called  Hood's 
River,  but  the  expedition  had  only  ascended  this 
stream  for  a  few  miles,  when  they  were  completely 
stopped  by  a  magnificent  cataract;  and  they  then 
set  to  work  to  make  two  new  and  small  portable 
canoes,  with  which  they  might  proceed  inland, 
taking  to  the  waters  when  they  found  it  practi- 
cable, or  crossing  them  when  necessary.  They 
counted  their  direct  distance  from  Fort  Enter- 
prise to  be  no  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty 
miles,  and  all  were  in  high  spirits  at  the  thoughts 
of  rest  there  and  good  food.  This  journey,  how- 
ever trifling  seemingly  to  what  they  had  before 
performed,  was  destined  to  be  a  terrible  and  fatal 
one.  It  was  commenced  early  in  the  month  of 
September,  and  during  the  first  few  miles  they 
were  ominously  met  by  a  snow-storm,  which  ab- 
solutely drove  them  to  hide  under  their  blankets 
for  two  entire  days.  Their  preserved  meat  failed 
them,  and  they  had  no  resource,  when  they  re- 
sumed their  path,  save  to  eat  tripe-de-roche,  a  sort  of 
lichen  or  moss  found  on  the  rocks.  The  deer  rarely 
appeared  in  their  way,  and  still  more  rarely  could 
they  kill  them  when  seen.  All  the  band  began 
to  feel  the  horrors  of  starvation,  and  to  sink  under 
the  clime.  Their  bodies  became  miserably  ema- 
ciated, and  a  mile  or  two  formed  a  heavy  days' 
journey.  The  Canadians  grew  unmanageable 
through  despair,  and  at  length  both  canoes  were 
lost,  or  rather  Avillfully  destroyed,  the  men  refusing 
to  drag  them  along.  The  consequences  of  this 


154:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

conduct  of  the  Canadians,  against  which  Franklin 
remonstrated  in  vain,  became  tbo  plainly  apparent 
when  they  did  finally  reach  the  Coppermine. 
For  eight  days  the  famished  band  stood  shivering 
on  the  banks  of  the  river,  unable  to  get  across, 
though  its  width  was  but  one  hundred  and  thirty 
yards.  The  brave  Richardson  finally  offered  to 
swim  over  with  a  line,  which  might  have  got  a 
raft  across,  but,  after  going  half  way,  he  sank,  and 
had  to  be  pulled  back,  nearly  dead.  At  last,  a 
sort  of  wicker  boat,  lined  with  painted  cloth,  took 
them  all  safely  over  the  stream;  but,  in  their 
wretched  condition  of  body,  supported  by  almost 
nothing  save  tripe-de-roche  (which  could  scarcely 
be  called  nutriment,  and  injured  many  of  the 
eaters),  they  could  only  advance  by  inches,  as  it 
were,  though  Fort  Enterprise  was  now  within  forty 
or  fifty  miles  of  them  in  a  direct  line.  Snows  and 
rains  fell  upon  them  incessantly ;  they  had  stream 
after  stream  to  cross ;  and  fuel  often  failed  as  well 
as  food.  Two  of  the  men  dropped  behind,  sinking 
on  the  ground,  benumbed  with  cold,  and  incapable 
of  motion.  Dr.  Richardson  and  Hood,  with  Hep- 
burn, resolved,  for  the  sake  of  these  men,  to  encamp 
for  a  time,  and  allow  Franklin  with  the  rest  to  go 
forward,  in  the  hope  of  procuring  aid  at  Fort  En- 
terprise from  the  Indians.  The  adventures  of 
Richardson  at  this  encampment  are  thrillingly  in- 
teresting. The  two  men  who  had  fallen  behind 
perished,  but  the  doctor  and  his  friends  were 
joined  by  one  of  the  vovageurs,  who  had  fallen 


FKANKLIX,  THE  NAVIGATOE.       155 

back,  finding  himself  (as  he  said)  unable  to  go  on 
with  Franklin.  This  individual,  an  Iroquois  or 
half  breed  voyageur,  named  Michel,  grew  strong, 
comparatively,  and  was  able  to  hunt.  He  brought 
to  the  tent  pieces  of  flesh,  which  he  said  had  been 
part  of  a  wolf  killed  by  a  deer's  horn.  Later  cir- 
cumstances led  Dr.  Richardson  to  the  conclusion, 
however,  that  this  flesh  was  actually  part  of  the 
bodies  of  the  two  stragglers,  found  by  Michel  in 
the  snow,  and  possibly  found  not  yet  dead.  Michel 
became  gloomy  and  sullen,  awakening  the  suspi- 
cions of  his  companions,  and  adding  fresh  horrors 
to  their  already  horrible  situation.  He  watched 
the  Doctor  and  Hepburn  so  closely  that  they  could 
not  speak  a  word  to  one  another,  while  poor  Hood 
Lay  in  the  tent  incapable  of  motion,  and  seemingly 
near  his  end.  At  length,  on  the  20th  of  October, 
when  the  Doctor  and  Hepburn  were  severally 
employed  out  of  doors,  a  shot  was  heard  in  the 
tent,  and  there  they  found  Hood  killed  by  a  ball 
through  the  head.  Michel,  who  was  about  him  at 
the  time,  declared  that  he  must  have  slain  himself, 
or  the  gun  must  have  gone  off  accidentally ;  but 
Richardson  saw  clearly  that  the  shot  had  certainly 
been  fired  from  behind,  close  to  the  head.  Not- 
withstanding his  assertions  as  to  the  cause,  Michel 
could  not  refrain  from  betraying  guilt  by  con- 
tinually exclaiming,  "  You  do  not  suppose  that  I 
murdered  him  !  "  Indeed,  he  was  not  assailed  by 
any  such  charges.  His  companions,  than  whom, 
perhaps,  two  men  were  never  more  unhappily 


156  MEN   WHO   HAVE    RISEN. 

placed,  dared  not  utter  a  word  on  the  subject,  as 
Michel  had  strength  enough  to  have  overpowered 
them  both  openly,  and  with  ease.  That  he  would 
do  so  at  the  first  opportunity — that  he  would 
never  return  to  Fort  Enterprise  with  them — they 
now  also  felt  as  a  thing  indubitable.  By  a  great 
and  memorable  exertion  of  moral  courage,  Dr. 
Richardson  saved  himself  and  his  friend  Hepburn 
from  the  fate  impending  over  them.  On  the  third 
day  after  the  murder  of  Hood,  the  three  compan- 
ions set  out  for  Fort  Enterprise,  and  on  the  way 
Michel,  staying  behind  under  the  plea  of  gathering 
some  tripe-de-roclie,  allowed  the  two  Englishmen 
to  speak  alone  for  the  first  time.  Their  mutual 
sense  of  being  doomed  to  almost  instant  death 
proved  so  strong  as  at  once  to  determine  Richard- 
son on  his  course.  On  Michel  coming  up,  the 
doctor  put  a  pistol  to  the  head  of  the  wretch  and 
shot  him  dead  on  the  spot.  The  Iroquois  had 
loaded  his  gun,  but  had  gathered  no  tripe-de-roche. 
It  is  scarcely  possible  to  doubt  that  but  for  this 
terrible  step,  Richardson  and  Hepburn  would  both 
have  been  sacrificed,  and  most  probably  on  that 
very  day.  Michel  durst  not  permit  them  to  go 
alive  to  the  Fort,  to  tell  their  sad  and  accusing 
tale. 

On  the  llth  of  November,  Franklin  had  reached 
Fort  Enterprise  with  five  companions,  but  their 
joy  at  reaching  its  shelter  was  sadly  damped  by 
the  desolation  of  the  place,  and  by  the  want  of 
food.  It  was  found  from  a  note  that  the  unwearied 


FEANKLLtf,    THE    XAYIGATOR.  157 

Back  (who  had  moved  on  in  advance)  had  been 
there,  but,  seeing  the  condition  of  matters,  he  had 
instantly  set  oft'  in  search  of  the  Indians,  to  pro- 
cure supplies  against  the  arrival  of  his  famished 
associates.  With  this  hope  before  them,  the  party 
of  Franklin  set  to  grubbing  for  bones  to  pound 
and  make  soup  of.  On  this  diet  and  tripe-de-roche 
they  lingered  out  their  existence  (with  one  or  two 
exceptions)  till  Richardson  and  Hepburn  came  up, 
on  the  6th  November,  only  to  bring  starvation 
into  the  midst  of  starvation.  The  skeleton  figures, 
the  ghastly  faces,  and  the  sepulchral  voices  of  the 
adventurers,  prognosticated,  indeed,  a  speedy  end 
to  all  as  regarded  this  world,  when  the  arrival  of 
the  Indians  (7th  November),  sent  by  Back, 
snatched  them  from  the  grasp  of  the  grave.  On 
the  loth  December  they  were  strong  enough  to 
start  on  their  journey  eastward,  and,  being  joined 
by  Back  and  his  party,  they  safely  reached  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  stations  early  in  the 
summer  of  1822.  From  these  stations  Franklin 
and  his  friends  had  an  easy  passage,  where  they 
arrived  after  having  journeyed  by  water  and  by 
land  (including  the  navigation  of  the  Polar  Sea), 
the  immense  distance  in  all  of  five  thousand  five 
hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

\  Though  the  grand  point  of  traversing  the  arctic 
shores  of  North  America,  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Coppermine  River  to  Behring's  Straits,  had  not 
been  fully  accomplished,  Franklin,  in  addition  to 
the  new  information  collected  by  him  relative  to 


158  MEN    WHO   II AYE   KISEN. 

the  interior,  had  also  at  least  rendered  it  extremely 
probable  that  the  continent  presents  to  the  Polar 
Ocean  a  direct  and  pretty  regular  line  of  coast  the 
whole  way  west  of  the  Coppermine.  But  Frank- 
lin, nothing  daunted  by  his  past  sufferings,  was 
determined  to  have  the  honor  of  clearing  up  the 
matter  fully,  knowing  that,  by  tracing  the  shores 
in  the  direction  of  his  former  enterprise,  he  would 
acquire  the  merit  of  narrowing  the  north-west 
passage  question  to  the  mere  discovery  of  an  inlet 
to  the  Arctic  Sea  on  the  Eastern  shores  of  North 
America,  either  through  Hudson's  Bay  or  Baffin's 
Bay,  or  their  various  channels,  straits  and  sounds. 
He  therefore  proposed  to  the  British  Government 
to  undertake  an  overland  journey  to  the  mouth  of 
Mackenzie  River,  by  which  plan  he  would  shorten 
his  course  along  the  coast  to  Behring's  Straits, 
being  satisfied  of  the  continuity  of  the  land  from 
the  Coppermine  westward  to  the  Mackenzie.  The 
British  Government  embraced  the  gallant  offer  of 
Franklin,  and  the  latter,  now  captain,  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  obtain  anew  the  company  of 
Richardson  and  Back,  his  well-tried  friends.  Re- 
collecting the  previous  difficulties  in  regard  to 
boats,  he  had  three  constructed  at  Woolwich,  the 
materials  being  mahogany  with  ash  timbers ;  while 
he  also  prepared  a  portable  one,  only  eighty-five 
pounds  in  weight,  and  of  which  the  substance  wa? 
ash,  fastened  plank  to  plank  with  thongs,  and 
covered  with  Mackintosh  cloth.  All  was  ready 
in  the  beginning  of  1825,  and  the  expedition  sailed 


FRANKLIX,    THE   NAVIGATOR.  159 

from  Liverpool  on  the  16th  of  February.  It 
reached  New  York  on  the  15th  of  March.  Their 
further  progress  northwards  affords  nothing  of 
novel  interest,  until  they  reached  the  Great  Bear 
Lake,  at  the  head  of  Mackenzie  river — so  called 
from  Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie,  who  descended  it 
in  1789,  and  who  lived  to  give  Franklin  the  bene- 
fit of  his  friendly  counsels  on  the  occasion  of  his 
first  journey.  When  Captain  Franklin  arrived  at 
Great  Bear  Lake,  he  set  a  party  to  work  on  a 
winter  residence,  and,  eager  to  advance  the  objects 
of  his  expedition,  proceeded  in  person  with  a  few 
companions  down  the  Mackenzie  to  look  at  the 
Polar  Sea  in  that  region,  and  prepare  for  its  navi- 
gation. 

Franklin  and  his  party  reached  the  north-eastern 
entrance  on  the  14th  August,  in  latitude  69  deg. 
44  min.,  longitude  135  deg.  57  min.,  and  rejoiced 
at  the  sea-like  appearance  to  the  north.  Observ. 
ing  an  island  in  the  distance,  the  boat's  head  was 
directed  towards  it,  and,  hastening  to  its  most 
elevated  part,  the  prospect  was  highly  gratifying. 
The  Rocky  Mountains  were  seen  from  S.  W.  to 
W.  1-2  N".,  while  to  the  north  the  sea  appeared  in 
all  its  majesty,  with  many  seals  and  whales  sport- 
ing in  its  waves.  On  the  5th  September  they  re- 
turned to  their  winter  quarters  on  the  Great  Bear 
River,  which  now  presented  a  lively,  bustling 
scene,  from  the  preparations  necessary  to  be  made 
for  passing  eight  or  nine  months  in  what  was  ap- 
propriately called  Fort  Franklin.  With  full  em- 


160  MEN    WHO    IIAVU    KISEN. 

ployment  for  every  one,  the  time  passed  away  very 
cheerfully.  On  Christmas-day  sixty  human  beings 
assembled  in  the  little  hall  to  do  honor  to  the 
usual  festivities — Englishmen,  Highlanders,  Cana- 
dians, Esquimaux,  Chipewyans,  Dogribs,  Hare 
Indians,  Cree  women  and  children,  all  talking  at 
one  time  in  their  different  languages,  and  all 
mingling  together  in  perfect  harmony. 

On  Tuesday,  the  28th  June,  1856,  the  whole 
company  re-embarked  in  the  boats,  on  the  Mac- 
kenzie, and  proceeded  on  their  voyage  down  that 
river  until  the  3d  July,  when,  on  arriving  at  the 
point  where  the  river  branches  off  into  several 
channels,  the  separation  into  two  parties  took 
place — Captain  Franklin  and  Back  with  two  boats 
(one  of  which  had  been  built  at  the  fort)  and  four- 
teen men,  including  Augustus,  a  faithful  interpreter 
of  the  former  journey,  were  to  proceed  to  the 
westward ;  while  Dr.  Richardson  and  Lieutenant 
Kendall,  in  the  other  two,  were  to  proceed  with 
ten  men  to  the  eastward  as  far  as  the  Coppermine. 
We  shall,  however,  first  follow  Captain  Franklin 
and  his  party. 

On  the  7th  he  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mackenzie,  where  he  fell  in  with  a  very  large  party 
of  Esquimaux,  whose  conduct  was  at  first  very  vio- 
lent, but  by  great  command  of  temper,  and  some 
conciliation,  they  were  at  length  brought  to  restore 
the  articles  pillaged  from  the  boats.  Captain  Frank- 
lin, however,  speedily  discovered  that  all  their  pro- 
testations of  regret  were  false,  and  nothing  but 


THE   XAYIGATOK.  161 

the  greatest  vigilance  on  his  part  saved  the  party 
from  a  general  massacre.  On  the  13th  his  pro- 
gress towards  Behring's  Straits  was  arrested  by  a 
compact  body  of  ice  stretching  from  the  shore  to 
seaward ;  and  on  landing  for  shelt  er  from  a  heavy 
gale,  another  party  of  Esquimaux  was  met  with. 
On  the  15th,  having  passed  this  barrier,  they 
arrived  off  Babbage's  River,  but  again  were  they 
involved  in  an  icy  labyrinth,  which,  added  to  the 
dense  fogs  here  found  in  the  highest  degree  of  per- 
fection, owing  to  the  barrier  opposed  to  their  pro- 
gress south  by  the  Rocky  Chain,  made  it  torment- 
ingly  slow.  A  month — one  the  most  favorable 
for  arctic  exploration — had  passed  in  this  manner, 
while  only  10  deg.  (three  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  miles)  of  west  longitude  had  been  attained, 
and  another  10  deg.  still  lay  between  them  and 
Icy  Cape.  Thus  situated,  and  ignorant  that  a 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  further  west  a  boat  was 
awaiting  him  from  the  Blossom,  which  had  been 
sent  to  Behring's  Straits,  under  Captain  Beechey, 
Captain  Franklin  justly  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  they  had  reached  a  point,  beyond  which  per- 
severance would  have  been  rashness,  and  their 
best  efforts  fruitless.  On  the  18th  August  they, 
therefore,  set  out  on  their  return,  giving  to  their 
extreme  point,  in  latitude  70  deg.  24.  min.  north, 
longitude  149  deg.  37  min.  west,  the  name  of  Re- 
turn Reef;  and,with  the  exception  of  a  violent  storm 
near  Herschel  Island,  reached  Fort  Franklin  on  the 
21st  September,  without  any  mateiial  danger. 
11 


162  HEX   WHO   HAVE   BISEN. 

By  Captain  Beechey,  in  the  meantime,  an  im- 
portant addition  had  been  made  to  our  knowledge 
of  the  arctic  shores  of  North  America.  Franklin 
had  made  it  clear  that  from  longitude  115  deg.  to 
149  deg.  west,  or  from  Coppermine  River  to  Re- 
turn Reef,  these  shores  were  open  and  navigable ; 
and  Beechey  had  advanced  a  considerable  way 
eastward  from  Behring's  Straits,  till  checked  by 
ice.  Having  been  instructed  to  avoid  being  shut 
up,  he  sent  forward  his  barge  under  Mr.  Elson, 
who  examined  the  coast  up  to  a  point  only 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  Return  Reef. 
These  were  great  accessions  to  geognostic  science 
and,  as  before  remarked,  necessarily  narrowed 
materially  the  question  of  a  north-west  pas- 
sage. 

Being  joined  by  Dr.  Richardson,  who  with  his 
party  had  made  valuable  and  extended  observa- 
tions on  the  Coppermine  River,  as  well  as  on  its 
Esquimaux  and  Indian  tribes,  and  the  native  pro- 
ductions of  the  country,  Franklin  and  his  friends 
returned  once  more  to  Britain  in  September,  1827, 
to  enjoy  their  well- won  repute.  Not  only  his  own 
land  but  Europe  generally  recognized  the  high 
deserts  of  Franklin.  The  Geographical  Society 
of  Paris  presented  him,  immediately  on  his  return 
home,  with  a  valuable  gold  medal,  thereby  stamp- 
ing him  as  the  greatest  geographical  discoverer  of 
the  year  preceding.  On  the  29th  April,  1829,  he 
received  the  honor  of  knighthood,  and,  shortly 
afterwards,  the  degree  of  a  D.C.L.  from  the  Uni- 


FRANKLIN,    THE   NAVIGATOR.  163 

versity  of  Oxford.  In  1830,  Sir  John  was  em- 
ployed, in  his  naval  capacity  simply,  to  command 
the  Rainbow  on  the  Mediterranean  station,  and 
for  his  exertions  while  there  in  farthering  the 
interests  and  quieting  the  troubles  of  Greece,  he 
was  decorated  with  the  order  of  the  Redeemer  of 
Greece. 

The  next  prominent  post  held  by  Sir  John 
Franklin  was  that  of  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
Tasmania  or  Van  Piemen's  Land,  his  appointment 
to  which  took  place  in  1836.  On  this  occasion 
he  was  created  a  knight  of  the  Guelphic  or 
Hanoverian  Order.  He  held  his  governorship 
nearly  up  to  his  entrance  on  his  last  explora- 
tions. 

Having  done  so  much  to  clear  up  the  mysteries 
of  the  northern  shores  of  the  New  World,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  on  a  new  voyage  in  search  of  a  north- 
west passage  being  resolved  upon  by  the  Admi- 
ralty, Sir  John  Franklin  should  have  been  selected 
for  the  task.  Nor  need  we  be  surprised  that  he, 
though  now  in  the  sixtieth  year,  should  have  ac- 
cepted it.  Satisfied  of  the  existence  of  a  great 
navigable  sea  to  the  west,  he  could  scarcely  fail  to 
entertain  the  hope  of  penetrating  to  it  at  some 
point  or  another,  and  thus  winning  the  laurel  so 
long  struggled  for  by  himself,  and  by  so  many 
able  rivals.  Danger,  and  perhaps  death,  he  knew 
lay  in  the  way,  but  beyond  shone  the  inviting 
crown  of  deathless  celebrity.  Two  ships  were 
placed  under  the  command  of  Sir  John  Franklin 


164:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

for  this  fresh  service  in  the  Polar  Seas,  namely, 
the  Erebus  and  Terror,  both  of  which  were  fitted 
with  small  steam-engines  and  propellers.  Captain 
Crozier,  who  had  been  Parry's  lieutenant  in  the 
Hecla,  was  nominated  to  the  command  of  the 
Terror.  The  directions  of  the  Admiralty  were, 
generally,  that  Sir  John  should  enter  Lancaster 
Sound  through  Baffin's  Bay,  and,  descending  south- 
westwards,  into  the  water-way  discovered  by  him- 
self along  the  northern  shore  of  the  American  con- 
tinent, seek  an  opening  into  the  western  Polar 
Ocean.  He  set  sail  on  the  26th  May,  1845,  and 
was  last  seen,  by  a  whaler,  in  Baffin's  Bay,  on 
the  26th  July,  at  which  time  he  was  moored  to  an 
iceberg,  and  waiting  impatiently  till  the  ice 
would  allow  him  to  enter  Lancaster  Sound. 

Since  that  period  neither  Sir  John  Franklin 
nor  any  of  his  gallant  company  has  been  discov- 
erable. After  three  years  had  passed,  public 
as  well  as  private  anxiety  was  awakened  on  be- 
half of  the  absent  ships,  and  during  successive 
years  it  was  kept  alive  by  continual  attempts  to 
ascertain  the  proceedings  and  fate  of  the  expedi- 
tion. A  visit  to  Beechey  Island,  in  Barrow  Strait, 
by  one  of  these  searching  vessels,  disclosed  the 
fullest  evidence  that  the  Erebus  and  Terror  had 
passed  there  the  winter  of  1845-6,  the  first  of 
their  absence.  Three  deaths  had  occurred  among 
tho  crews,  but  there  were  indisputable  signs  of 
the  prosperous  condition  of  the  expedition,  and  of 
the  fulfillment  of  some  of  tho  scientific  pursuits  to 


FRANKLIN,    THE   NAVIGATOR.  165 

which  it  was  devoted.  The  search  made  subse- 
quently to  this  important  discovery,  unfortunately 
took  a  wrong  direction,  with  the  single  exception 
of  that  of  a  vessel  (the  Prince  Albert)  sent  out  by 
Lady  Franklin,  whose  instructions  pointed  to  the 
precise  locality  where,  as  is  now  known,  the  Erebus 
and  Terror  must  have  been  finally  arrested. 

It  was  in  1854  that  the  next,  and,  as  yet,  latest, 
tidings  were  received.  Dr.  Rae,  who  was  en- 
gaged upon  a  geographical  exploration  in  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company's  territory,  accidentally 
received  information  that  a  party  from  the  missing 
expedition  had  landed  upon  the  coast  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Back  or  Fish  River  ;  and  he  brought  home 
many  indisputable  relics,  given  him  by  the  Esqui- 
maux, which  proved  the  vicinity  of  the  Erebus 
and  Terror.  A  boat  party  was  sent  in  the  follow- 
ing year  to  the  spot  indicated  to  Dr.  Rae  by  the 
Esquimaux,  and  it  was  proved  that  an  escaping 
party  had  reached  it,  and  ascended  the  Fish 
River  ;  traces  of  their  progress  being  found  higher 
up,  but  no  signs  of  their  having  perished  there. 
Thus  the  actual  fate  of  these  martyrs  to  science  is 
yet  undecided — nay,  though  hope  may  well  have 
died  out,  it  cannot  be  positively  affirmed  that 
some  may  not  be  still  alive,  sharing,  possibly,  the 
miserable  existence  of  the  Esquimaux  upon  the 
coast,  It  is  well  known  that  the  task  of  clearing 
up  this  fearful  mystery  has  been  accepted  by  the 
devoted  wife  of  Franklin,  and  that  in  1857,  another 
expedition  (the  fourth  we  believe,  which  has  been 


166  MEN  WHO   HAVE   EISE1T. 

mainly  or  wholly  furnished  by  her  funds),  small, 
but  admirably  equipped  and  organised,  started 
under  the  command  of  Captain  M'Clintock,  an 
officer  who  has  distinguished  himself  in  each  of  the 
searching  expeditions  sent  out  by  the  Government. 
One  closing  word  may  be  added.  Many 
persons  are  apt  to  ask,  "What  good  end  the 
discovery  of  a  north-west  passage  will  serve  ? " 
They  give  force  to  their  question,  by  assuming  it 
as  undeniable,  that  the  passage,  even  if  fully  made 
out  by  a  ship  sailing  through  could  never  be  used 
for  trading  purposes,  or  any  others  truly  beneficial. 
It  must  be  allowed  that  science  (and  not  commerce) 
is  more  deeply,  or  at  least  directly,  interested  in 
the  arctic  exploration.  Yet  let  not  the  merchant, 
who  sends  out  his  ships  to  bring  him  gain  from  the 
four  quarters  of  the  globe,  imagine  that,  as  being 
a  scientific  question  chiefly,  the  exploring  of  the 
Arctic  Circle  is  a  matter  in  which  he  has  no  posi- 
tive concern.  The  safe  voyaging  of  his  vessels 
hangs  upon  the  compass — the  mysterious  root  of 
whose  power  and  utility  lies  in  the  heart  of  the 
boreal  regions.  Let  the  merchant  consider  what 
would  be  the  chances  of  safety  to  his  barks 
without  that  instrument,  and  not  undervalue  those 
labors  of  science  which  have  done  so  much  for 
him  before,  and  which  have  even  now  his  final 
good  in  view,  did  the  settlement  of  the  magnetic 
pole  form  their  whole  and  sole  object.  Let  the 
practical  man  of  business  also  reflect,  that  to  the 
north-west  passage  question  we  owe  the  discovery 


FJRAXKLIX,    TIIE   NAVIGATOK.  167 

£  the  N"ew  World.  Columbus  sailed  simply  to 
*  4id  a  western  route  to  the  Indies ;  the  Americas 
only  fell  in  his  way  by  mere  accident,  or  at  least 
unexpectedly.  Let  any  one  who  scouts  northern 
exploration  as  useless,  meditate  on  this  one  grand 
fact,  and  be  silent.  On  the  further  general  and 
scientific  points  connected  with  the  subject  it  is 
needless  to  enter.  They  are  numerous,  and  in- 
volve the  welfare  of  our  kind  deeply. 


OBERLEST  THE  PASTOR 

THE  Ban  de  la  Roche  derives  its  name  from  the 
neighboring  castle  of  La  Roche.  The  Germans 
call  the  Ban  "  Steinthal,"  or  the  valley  of  stone. 
Formerly  it  was  part  of  the  province  of  Alsace, 
in  the  north-east  of  France,  and  is  situated  on  the 
western  slope  of  the  Champ  de  Feu,  an  isolated 
range  of  mountains  of  volcanic  origin — as  the 
name  implies — separated  by  a  deep  valley  from 
the  eastern  chain  of  the  Vosges.  The  Ban  con- 
tains only  two  parishes — one  called  Rothau  ;  the 
other  comprises  the  hamlets  of  Waldbach,  Zolbach, 
Belmont,  Bellefosse,  and  Foudai.  Waldbach, 
which  lies  nearly  in  the  centre  of  these  hamlets, 
is  about  eighteen  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea ;  and  four  hundred  feet  below  Waldbach, 
on  the  mountain-side,  stands  Rothau.  The  two 
parishes  contain  about  nine  thousand  acres,  the 
sterility  of  which  may  be  judged  from  the  fact, 
that  little  more  than  fifteen  hundred  are  capable 
of  cultivation.  Wave  after  wave  of  persecution 


OBEKLEST,  THE  PASTOR.  169 

broke  upon  them  during  the  thirty  years'  war  and 
the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  which  so  desolated  the 
Ban  as  to  render  it  almost  incapable  of  affording 
sustenance  to  any  human  being.  Nevertheless, 
about  eighty  or  a  hundred  families,  destitute  of 
all  the  necessaries  of  civilized  life,  and  shut  out 
from  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
boring districts,  in  consequence  of  the  want  of 
roads,  here  continued  to  drag  on  a  most  wretched 
and  miserable  existence.  At  length  the  province 
of  Alsace  was  united  to  France — an  union  which 
brought  no  change  to  the  moral  or  physical  condi- 
tion of  the  poor  dwellers  in  the  "  valley  of  stone." 
About  the  year  1 750,  a  devout  and  earnest  clergy- 
man, moved  by  their  wretched  state,  undertook 
the  charge  of  the  Ban.  His  name  was  Stouber. 
Desirous  of  knowing  what  was  the  state  of  educa- 
tion in  the  district,  he  inquired  for  the  principal 
school.  To  his  astonishment  he  was  conducted  to 
a  miserable  hovel,  in  one  corner  of  which  lay  a 
helpless  old  man  on  a  truckle  bed,  and  around 
him  were  grouped  a  crowd  of  ill-clad,  noisy,  wild- 
looking  children. 

"  Are  you  the  schoolmaster,  my  good  friend  ?  " 
asked  Stouber  to  the  old  man. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  what  do  you  teach  the  children  ?  " 

a  Nothing,  sir." 

"  Nothing !     How  is  that  ?  " 

"  Because,"  replied  the  old  man,  with  genuine 
naivete,  "  I  know  nothing  myself." 


1YO  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN 

"Why,  then,  were  you  appointed  school- 
master ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,  I  had  been  taking  care  of  the  Wald- 
bach  pigs,  and  when  I  got  too  old  and  infirm  for 
that  employment,  I  was  sent  here  to  take  care  of 
the  children ! " 

Stouber  found  the  schools  of  the  other  villages 
in  a  similar  condition.  Nothing  could  be  more 
deplorably  wretched  than  the  ignorance  of  the 
masters,  who,  for  the  most  part,  were  swineherds 
and  shepherds !  During  the  months  of  summer, 
they  ranged  the  hills  with  their  flocks,  but  in 
winter  they  were  transformed  into  "  dominies,'* 
without  any  qualifications  for  their  office,  but  a 
most  laudable  stock  of  good  intentions,  which  led 
them  to  attempt  to  teach  the  children  what  they 
themselves  could  not  understand ;  for  the  language 
of  the  Ban  is  a  patois,  evidently  the  old  dialect  of 
Lorraine;  when,  therefore,  they  taught  their 
charge  to  read  a  French  or  German  elementary 
work,  or  a  fragment  of  a  French  Bible,  they  were 
wholly  incapable  of  explaining  the  sense  or  of 
giving  the  correct  pronunciation ! 

A  man  of  less  ardent  piety  and  determined  res- 
olution than  M.  Stouber,  would  have  departed 
from  the  Ban  in  hopeless  despair  of  ever  being 
able  to  bring  about  a  revolution  in  the  condition 
of  its  wretched  inhabitants;  but  he  was  rich  in 
faith.  For  fourteen  years  he  labored  unceasingly 
to  effect  the  object  which  lay  next  his  heart,  by 
establishing  schools,  by  assiduous  pastoral  visita- 


OBERLIN  3  THE  PASTOK.          171 

tion,  and  by  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ.  Soon  after  the  death  of  his  wife, 
Stonber  was  appointed  to  a  new  sphere  of  labor ; 
but  before  entering  on  this  he  was  anxious  to  see 
tho  Ban  provided  with  a  man  "  like-minded  "  as 
himself.  He  knew  this  was  no  easy  matter  to 
accomplish,  for  the  difficulties  in  that  isolated  place 
were  numerous,  while  the  income  was  extremely 
small.  The  man  who  came  there,  Stouber  knew, 
must  make  up  his  mind  to  "  endure  hardness,"  to 
suifer  privation,  to  be  cut  off  from  all  intercourse 
with  the  educated,  and  to  wholly  devote  himself 
to  the  instruction  of  the  poor  and  the  wretched. 
Consequently  he  feared  lest  he  should  find  it  im- 
possible to  obtain  any  one  who  would  be  willing 
to  take  charge  of  the  parish ;  and  this  grieved  him 
the  more,  as  his  own  health  was  so  completely 
shattered  as  to  forbid  his  continuance.  He,  how- 
ever, commenced  his  inquiries. 

In  1740,  at  the  gymnasium  of  Strasburg,  a  man 
of  very  considerable  classical  attainments,  named 
Oberlin,  held  the  office  of  tutor.  His  wife  was  an 
amiable  and  accomplished  woman.  They  had 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  Theirs  was  a  joy- 
ous household.  If  you  visited  Madame  Oberlin 
in  the  evening  of  almost  any  day  in  the  year,  you 
would  have  found  her  seated  in  the  midst  of  her 
children,  correcting  their  drawings,  or  reading 
aloud  to  them  some  interesting  and  instructive 
book.  Thus  her  evenings  were  spent,  and  when 
the  hour  for  retiring  to  rest  came,  there  was  gen- 


172  MEN   WHO    HATE   EISEN. 

erally  a  united  request  for  one  "  beautiful  hymn 
from  dear  mamma  !  "  When  that  mother's  voice 
was  no  longer  heard  upon  the  earth,  and  the  long 
green  grass  grew  thick  upon  her  grave,  those 
evening  hymns  were  remembered  and  their  influ- 
ence felt. 

Oberlin  was  the  playfellow  as  well  as  the  in- 
structor of  his  children.  In  the  vicinity  of  Stras- 
burg,  at  a  place  named  Schiltigheim,  he  had  a  few 
acres  of  land,  and  there,  once  a  week,  during  the 
summer,  the  villagers  would  see  him,  with  an  old 
drum  slung  across  his  shoulder,  acting  as  drill 
sergeant  and  drummer  at  the  same  time  to  his  lads, 
whom  he  put  through  the  military  evolutions,  with 
which  he  was  well  acquainted.  One  of  the  boys, 
John  Frederic,  in  consequence  of  this  "  playing  at 
soldiers,"  became  passionately  attached  to  the 
military  profession.  Tales  and  histories  of  battles 
were  eagerly  sought  after  and  as  eagerly  read  by 
him.  The  officers  of  the  troops  quartered  in  the 
city  were  known  to  his  family,  and,  being  aware 
of  the  predilection  which  he  had  formed,  and  as- 
tonished at  the  acquaintance  with  military  science 
which  he  displayed,  granted  his  request  to  be  per- 
mitted to  join  the  soldiers  when  at  exercise.  The 
glitter  and  excitement  of  the  parade  filled  the 
boy's  mind. 

He,  like  most  of  his  age,  did  not  interpret  the 
word  "  soldier."  Its  import  was  hidden  from  him, 
or  his  gentle,  sensitive  nature  would  have  shrunk 
from  it.  He  looked  upon  the  troops  as  they  marched 


173 

before  him,  with  their  gay  clothing,  and  glistening 
weapons,  and  emblazoned  banners ;  he  heard  their 
regular  tread  and  thrilling  music ;  but  to  him  it 
was  all  only  a  splendid  summer-day  pageant — he 
thought  not  of  the  cruelty,  and  gore,  and  carnage 
of  the  battle-field. 

Happily  for  him,  his  father  destined  him  for  a 
learned  profession.     Filial  obedience  was  a  pleas- 
ure to  the  lad,  so,  without  a  regret,  he  gave  him- 
self to  the  ardent  pursuit  of  the  studies  which  his 
father  marked  out.     A  few  years,  and  the  curric- 
ulum was  passed  through,  and  he  was  now  of  age 
to  choose  a  profession.     He  made  choice  of  the 
ministry.     Of  the  work  in  which  he  had  engaged, 
he  had  the  clearest  views.     His  w^as  not  an  ambi- 
tion to  preach.    The  responsibilities  of  the  Chris- 
tian pastor  were  set  before  him,  and  he  sought  to 
prepare  himself  for  their  efficient  discharge.   When 
pressed  to  undertake  a  pastoral  charge,  his  reply 
was,  "  I  need  more  experience,  more  knowledge ; 
at  present  I  am  not  qualified.     Moreover,  I  wish 
to  labor  where  I  can  be  useful,  not  where  I  can 
be  at  ease."     The  key  to  his  after  life  is  to  bo 
found  hi  this  reply.     Seven  years  elapsed,  during 
which  he  diligently  employed  himself  in  the  study 
of  theology,  supporting  himself  in  the  meantime 
by  acting  as  tutor  to  the  family  of  a  distinguished 
surgeon  of  Strasburg,  in  whose  house  he  acquired 
the  knowledge   of  surgery  and  the   healing  art, 
which  he  afterwards  turned  to  such  good  in  the 
Ban  de  la  Roche. 


174:  MEN    WHO    HAVE    KISEN. 

Thus  he  continued  teaching  and  studying  until 
1776,  when  the  chaplaincy  of  a  French  regiment 
was  offered  to  him.  The  "old  drum"  and  the 
military  associations  of  childhood  were  aroused  up 
from  the  sleep  of  years.  The  chaplaincy,  he 
thought,  presented  a  prospect  of  extensive  useful- 
ness, so  he  decided  to  accept  it.  Accordingly  he 
resigned  his  tutorship,  took  lodgings  in  the  city, 
and  commenced  a  preparatory  course  of  reading. 

About  this  period  M.  Stouber  began  his  search 
after  a  pastor  to  succeed  him  in  the  Ban.  Ober- 
lin,  whose  piety,  disinterested  benevolence,  and 
scholarly  ability,  had  already  won  him  the  esteem 
of  his  fellow-citizens,  was  mentioned  to  him  as 
exactly  such  a  man  as  he  sought.  Stouber  came 
to  Strasburg,  and  sought  out  Oberlin's  lodgings. 
They  were  in  a  mean  street,  and  when  he  reached 
the  house  he  was  directed  to  a  little  room  up  three 
pair  of  stairs.  He  opened  the  door,  and  the  first 
thing  that  caught  his  eye  was  a  small  bed,  covered 
with  curtains  made  of — brown  paper  !  He  entered 
the  apartment  and  approached  the  bed,  and  there 
he  found  Oberlin,  racked  with  the  agony  of  tooth- 
ache. After  some  conversation,  during  which  he 
rallied  him  upon  the  unique  character  of  his  bed- 
hangings  and  the  poverty  of  his  abode,  he  inquired 
the  use  of  a  little  iron  pan  which  he  saw  suspended 
above  his  table.  "  That,"  replied  Oberlin,  "  is  my 
kitchen.  I  am  accustomed  every  day  to  dine  at 
home  with  my  parents,  and  they  give  me  a  large 
piece  of  bread  to  carry  back  with  me  in  my  pocket. 


OBERLIN,  THE  PASTOK.          175 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  put  my  bread 
into  that  pan;  and,  having  sprinkled  it  with  a 
little  salt  and  water,  I  place  my  lamp  beneath  it, 
and  go  on  with  my  studies  until  ten  or  eleven, 
when  I  generally  begin  to  feel  hungry,  by  which 
time  my  slice  of  bread  is  nicely  cooked,  and  I 
relish  it  more  than  the  choicest  luxuries." 

Stouber  was  overjoyed  while  he  listened.  This 
was  the  very  man  for  the  Steinthal.  He  declared 
the  object  of  his  visit,  portrayed  the  condition  of 
the  people,  their  misery  and  ignorance,  gave  ut- 
terance to  his  own  unfeigned  sorrow  at  being 
obliged  to  leave  them,  and  his  fear,  lest  he  could 
prevail  upon  him  to  occupy  his  post,  that  they  must 
perish  for  lack  of  knowledge. 

Oberlin's  heart  was  touched.  The  place  which 
Stouber  described  was  just  such  a  one  as  he  had 
often  pictured  to  himself  as  the  scene  of  his  pas- 
torate. But,  then,  what  could  he  do?  his  en- 
gagement with  the  regiment  being  all  but  finally 
concluded.  He  could  not  think  of  accepting 
charge  of  the  Ban  unless  he  was  liberated  from 
the  chaplaincy,  and,  moreover,  except  there  were 
before  him  no  candidates  for  clerical  preferment 
who  would  accept  M.  Stouber's  proposal.  These 
obstacles  were  soon  removed.  The  chaplaincy 
was  speedily  filled,  and  Oberlin  was  free  to  be- 
come the  pastor  of  the  Ban  de  la  Roche. 

His  mother  accompanied  him  to  Waldbach,  and 
after  arranging  his  little  establishment,  she  bade 
him  adieu,  leaving  with  him  his  younger  sister, 


176  MEN   V\TIIO   HAVE   EISEN. 

Sophia,  who  took  charge  of  his  household.  Pas- 
tor Stouber  introduced  him  to  the  parishioners ; 
and  in  April,  1767,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of 
his  age,  Oberlin  became  pastor  of  the  Ban  de  la 
Roche.  About  a  year  after  this  event  had  taken 
place,  a  lady  of  highly  cultivated  mind  and  agree- 
able disposition  came  to  Waldbach  on  a  visit  to 
Sophia.  Her  name  was  Madeline,  and  she  was 
the  orphan  daughter  of  Professor  Witter  of  Stras- 
burg.  She  soon  relieved  Sophia  of  her  cares  as 
her  brother's  housekeeper  ;  for,  despite  of  a  long- 
cherished  determination  never  to  marry  a  clergy- 
man, Madeline  Witter  became  the  wife  of  Ober- 
lin. A  more  judicious  choice  it  was  impossible  to 
make.  She  was  the  sharer  of  his  trials  and  his 
joys.  Her  prudence  and  foresight  balanced  and 
controled  his  enthusiastic  disposition :  her  devoted 
piety,  which  led  her  to  fully  participate  in  his 
anxiety  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  people, 
cheered  him  when  desponding,  and  heightened 
his  joy  when  successful. 

The  testing  time  had  now  come  to  Oberlin. 
He  was  a  pastor  and  a  husband.  His  wife,  one  of 
the  best  of  women ;  his  flock,  wretched,  ignorant, 
scattered — a  prey  to  laziness  and  hunger — with- 
out the  merest  necessaries  of  life,  and  contented 
to  remain  so.  Let  us,  then,  look  at  what  this 
young  man  possessed  that  his  hopes  should  be 
so  strong  of  turning  this  wilderness  into  a  "  gar- 
den of  God."  What  had  he?— wealth?  No, 
not  a  stiver;  but  he  had  that  which  wealth  could 


OBEKLLN",    THE   PASTOR.  177 

not,  cannot  purchase — an  earnest,  devoted,  loving 
heart,  a  thoughtful  and  well-disciplined  mind, 
considerable  scientific  skill  and  practical  ability, 
a,  natural  and  suasive  eloquence  which  at  once 
won  its  way  to  the  heart,  habits  of  self-denial,  of 
promptitude,  of  perseverance,  and  a  joyous  wil- 
lingness to  endure  all  things,  if  by  so  doing  he 
could  promote  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of 
mankind.  That  such  a  man  should  accomplish 
what  he  did  is  no  marvel.  It  would  have  been 
miraculous,  indeed,  if  he  had  failed. 

When  he  had  gone  over  the  parish,  he  saw  that 
Stouber's  picture  of  its  degraded  state  was  by  no 
means  too  highly  colored,  and  he  felt  that  all  his 
resources  would  be  taxed  if  he  sought  to  effect 
any  change  for  the  better.  His  quick  mind  at 
once  perceived  the  connexion  which  existed  be- 
tween their  physical  misery  and  their  moral 
degradation,  so  he  immediately  began  to  devise 
plans  to  promote  their  civilization.  His  first  was 
to  bring  them  into  contact  with  the  inhabitants  of 
the  neighboring  towns,  rightly  judging  that  the 
comfort,  and  cleanliness,  and  intelligence  which 
they  would  behold  in  those  places  would  present 
such  a  strong  contrast  to  the  state  of  things  in 
the  Steinthal  as  at  once  to  beget  a  desire  in  their 
minds  for  improvement.  But  how  was  he  to 
move  ?  All  the  roads  connected  with  the  parish 
were  literally  impassable  during  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  year,  in  consequence  of  land-slips 
which  completely  blocked  them,  or  their  being 
12 


178  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

torn  up  "by  the  rushing   down  of  the  mountain- 
torrents  during  the  winter.     The  people  thus  shut 
in  could  neither  find  a  market  for  their  produce 
nor    obtain   agricultural  implements  which  they 
required.     There  was  but  one  way  to  effect  the 
desired  change.     Oberlin  made  a  careful  survey 
of  the  parish,  and  the  result  was  a  determination 
to  open  up  a  communication  with  the  high-road 
to  Strasburg ;  but  to  do  this  it  would  be  necessary 
to  blast  the  rocks  and  to  construct  a  solid  wall  to 
support  a  road,  which  he  proposed  to  carry  for 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  along  the  banks  of  a  deep 
mountain-stream   called    the   Bruche,  and    then, 
at  Rothau,  to  build  a  bridge  across  it.     He  called 
his  parishioners  together,  and  announced  his  pro- 
ject.    They  were   astonished.     "He  was  mad," 
they  said.     "  The  thing  was  utterly  impracticable. 
They  had  thought  for  some  time  that  there  was 
something  strange  about  him,  but  now  they  were 
sure    he    was    downright    insane."     Thus    they 
thought  and  said,  and  one  and  all  began  to  excuse 
themselves  from  having  any  share  in  what  they 
deemed  such  a  wild  and  foolish  undertaking.     But 
Oberlin  pressed  the  matter  upon  them,  refuted 
their   objections   respecting   the    impossibility  of 
accomplishing  his  plan,  pointed  out  the  manifest 
and   numerous    advantages    which  would  result 
from  it,  both  to  themselves  and  to  their  children, 
and  wound  up  his  harangue  by  shouldering  a  pick- 
axe and  exclaiming,  "  Let  those  who  see  the  im- 
portance of  what  I  have  stated  come  and  work 


OBERLIX— THE   PASTOR.  N^A 

"  Let  those  who  sae  the  importance  of  what  I  luivo  stated  come  nnd  work  wil'i  me."— TACK  118. 


OBEKLIN,  THE  PASTOR.          179 

with  me  ! "  The  effect  was  electric.  Opposition 
gave  way  to  cheerful  acquiescence  and  the  most 
unbounded  enthusiasm.  He  appointed  to  each 
man  a  certain  task.  He  soon  had  more  helpers 
than  he  could  find  tools  for.  The  news  of  his  under- 
taking reached  Strasburg,  and  implements  and 
funds  were  sent  to  him.  Rocks  were  undermined 
and  blasted ;  torrents  which  had  overspread  and 
inundated  the  meadows  were  guided  into  chan- 
nels which  had  been  cut  to  receive  them ;  where 
the  land  threatened  to  slip,  walls  were  built  to 
sustain  it ;  the  road  was  completed  to  Rothau ; 
at  that  place  he  threw  a  neat  wooden  bridge 
across  the  Bruche,  which  to  this  day  is  called 
Le  Pout  de  Charite.  The  whole  was  finished, 
and  a  communication  opened  up  with  Strasburg 
in  1770,  about  a  year  and  a  half  after  his  mar- 
riage. 

But  how  fared  it  with  his  duties  as  a  religious 
teacher  all  this  time?  Did  he  neglect  them? 
No  ;  on  the  contrary,  like  the  great  apostle  of  the 
Gentiles — who  thought  it  not  beneath  him  to 
make  tents  during  the  week — Oberlin,  who  on 
week-days  headed  his  people  in  their  arduous  task, 
on  the  Sabbath  directed  them  with  equal  zeal 
and  earnestness  to  "the  rest  which  remaineth  for 
the  people  of  God."  The  immediate  effect  of  the 
success  of  his  scheme  was  the  gaining  of  almost 
unbounded  influence  over  his  parishioners.  They 
no  longer  regarded  him  as  a  madman,  but  as  the 
only  wise  one  among  them.  They  now  cheerfully 


1  80  MEJST  4WIIO    HAVE   RISEN. 

engaged  in  any  work  which  he  devised,  and,  very 
soon,  convenient  and  necessary  roads  traversed 
the  Steinthal,  and  connected  the  various  villages. 
While  he  was  tutor  in  M.  Ziegenhagen's  family 
in  Strasburg,  he  became  intimately  acquainted 
with  botanical  science,  and  acquired  not  merely 
that  knowledge  which  enables  the  empiric  to 
classify  and  denominate,  but  he  understood  the 
properties  of  almost  every  plant,  and  could  at  once 
tell  you  whether  it  could  be  used  as  food  or  med- 
icine. This  knowledge  he  at  once  turned  to 
account.  He  introduced  the  culture  of  several 
leguminous  plants  and  herbs  ;  imported  seed  from 
Riga,  and  raised  flax  ;  introduced  Dutch  clover  ; 
taught  the  farmers  the  use  of  manure,  to  make 
composts,  to  improve  the  growth  of  the  potato, 
which  had  so  far  degenerated  that  fields  which 
had  formerly  yielded  from  one  hundred  and  twenty 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  bushels,  now  yielded  only 
about  thirty  or  fifty,  which  the  people  imputed  to 
the  sterility  of  the  soil,  instead  of  their  own 
neglect.  His  success  was  most  unequivocal,  and 
the  consequence  was  the  augmentation  of  the  re- 
sources of  the  Steinthal.  As  an  example  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  was  wont  to  connect  all  those 
efforts  for  the  temporal  welfare  with  the  spiritual 
instruction  of  his  people,  the  following  incident  is 
characteristic.  Although  he  had  been  so  success- 
ful in  the  affair  of  the  road-making,  and  in  the 
introduction  of  an  improved  style  of  husbandry, 
still  among  the  parishioners  there  was  a  hankering 


OBERLIN,  THE  PASTOE.          181 

after  "old  fashions,"  and,  for  the  life  of  them, 
they  could  not  understand  how  it  was  that  he  who 
never  dug,  or  ploughed,  or  owned  an  acre  of  land 
in  his  life,  should  know  more  about  the  manage- 
ment of  fields  and  cattle  than  they  did.  Ober- 
lin's  sagacity  at  once  discovered  this,  and  so, 
when  he  wished  to  make  any  improvement,  or 
to  introduce  any  new  kind  of  plant,  or  vegetable, 
or  tree,  he  began  in  his  own  garden,  and  when 
the  curiosity  of  the  people  was  excited,  he 
detailed  to  them  the  name  of  the  root,  the  object 
he  had  in  cultivating  it,  the  mode  to  be  observed 
in  its  culture,  <fcc.,  until  he  had  thoroughly  in- 
structed them,  and  kindled  a  desire  in  their 
minds  to  imitate  him.  There  was  scarcely  a 
fruit-tree  worth  a  groat  for  miles  around,  and 
there  were  few  gardens  which  grew  anything  but 
the  most  luxuriant  weeds.  To  talk  about  the 
matter  Oberlin  knew  would  be  quite  useless ;  so 
he  betook  himself  to  his  old  plan  of  teaching  by 
example.  He  had  a  servant  who  was  an  intelli- 
gent and  devoted  man;  they  took  counsel  to- 
gether. There  were  two  gardens  belonging  to 
the  parsonage,  each  of  which  was  crossed  by  a 
well-frequented  thoroughfare.  One  of  these 
gardens  had  been  noted  for  years  for  the  poverty 
and  sterility  of  its  soil ;  this  he  determined  to 
convert  into  a  nursery-ground !  Trenches,  ac- 
cordingly, were  dug,  and  the  land  laid  out ;  slips 
of  walnut,  apple,  plum,  and  pear  trees  were 
planted.  In  due  time  the  trees  blossomed ;  and 


182  MEN   WHO   HAYE   EISEN. 

when  the  period  of  fruitage  came,  the  crop  was 
abundant.  The  plan,  as  Oberlin  anticipated, 
succeeded  admirably.  "Week  after  week  the  vil- 
lagers were  wont  to  pause,  and  wonder  how  trees 
could  grow  in  such  a  soil.  Then  they  began  to 
contrast  the  appearance  of  their  pastor's  garden 
with  their  own ;  and  then  they  came  to  him  in 
crowds,  begging  that  he  would  be  kind  enough  to 
instruct  them  how  to  grow  trees  for  themselves. 
The  object  he  sought  was  accomplished.  Accord- 
ing to  his  accustomed  mode,  he  first  directed 
their  thoughts  to  Him  "  who  causeth  the  earth  to 
bring  forth  her  bud,  and  who  crowneth  the  year 
with  his  goodness,"  and  then  gave  them  the 
desired  information.  To  aid  them  he  gave  them 
a  supply  of  young  trees  from  his  nursery,  and  in- 
structed them  in  the  art  of  grafting.  The  conse- 
quence was,  that  in  a  little  time  the  whole  district 
changed  its  aspect :  the  bare  and  desolate-looking 
cottages  were  speedily  surrounded  by  neat  little 
gardens  ;  and,  instead  of  the  indigence  and  misery 
which  formerly  characterized  the  villagers  and  their 
dwellings,  they  now  put  on  the  garb  of  rural  beauty 
and  happiness.  So  rapid  were  the  advances  which 
the  people  made  under  his  direction,  that,  in  1778, 
Oberlin  formed  an  Agricultural  Society,  which  he 
connected  with  the  central  society  at  Strasburg. 
By  doing  so,  he  secured  the  use  of  the  society's 
publications  and  periodicals,  and  received  its  assist- 
ance in  the  distribution  of  the  prizes,  which  were 
annually  awarded  to  the  peasants  who  distinguished 


OBEIILIX,    THE   PASTOK.  183 

themselves  in  the  grafting  and  culture  of  fruit-trees, 
and  in  rearing  or  improving  the  breed  of  cattle. 
The  Strasburg  Society,  as  a  testimony  of  its  sense 
of  the  advantages  which  Oberlin's  labors  had  be- 
stowed upon  the  people,  placed  two  hundred  francs 
at  his  disposal,  to  be  distributed  among  such  agri- 
culturists as  he  might  deem  worthy  of  a  prize.  He 
soon  began  to  reap  the  fruit  of  his  toil.  Every- 
where around  him  civilization  and  the  power  of  the 
Gospel  made  themselves  manifest.  "With  the  im- 
provement of  their  physical  condition,  their  moral 
advancement  went  hand  in  hand,  till,  at  length,  in 
the  district  around,  and  in  the  towns  and  cities  of 
the  basin  of  the  Rhine,  few  things  awakened  more 
astonishment,  or  attracted  so  much  attention,  as 
the  remarkable  change  which  had  taken  place  in 
the  people,  and  the  no  less  remarkable  character  of 
the  pastor  of  the  Ban  de  la  Roche. 

To  Oberlin  belongs  the  merit  of  being  the 
founder  of  Infant  Schools ;  a  fact  which  justly  en- 
titles him  to  the  gratitude  of  mankind.  When  lie 
took  the  cure  of  the  Ban  in  1767,  there  was  but 
one  schoolhouse  in  the  five  villages,  and  that  was 
a  hut  erected  by  Pastor  Stouber,  which  then  was 
in  a  ruinous  state.  He  called  the  parishioners  to- 
gether, and  proposed  that  they  should  either  build 
a  new  one  or  repair  the  hut.  They  gave  a  decided 
negative  to  his  proposition,  nor  would  they  again 
listen  to  him  on  the  subject,  until  he  engaged  that 
no  part  of  the  expense  should  fall  on  the  funds  of 
the  parish.  His  income,  arising  from  his  salary 


184  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN". 

as  pastor,  and  his  little  property,  did  not  amount 
to  more  than  about  forty  pounds  a-year;  never- 
theless, he  gave  the  required  promise,  and  the 
schoolhouse  was  built.  "  Why  should  I  hesitate 
in  this  matter  ?  "  said  he ;  "I  seek  only  the  glory 
of  God,  and  therefore  I  have  confidence  that  He 
will  grant  me  what  I  desire.  If  we  ask  in  faith, 
and  it  be  really  right  that  the  thing  should  take 
place,  our  prayer  is  certain  to  be  granted.  When, 
indeed,  are  our  plans  more  likely  to  be  successful 
than  when  we  enter  upon  them  in  humble  and 
simple  dependence  upon  God,  whose  blessing 
alone  can  cause  tKem  to  succeed  ?  "  Thus  Ober- 
lin  reasoned,  and  time  proved  that  he  reasoned 
aright.  God  did*  grant  his  prayer.  His  fast 
friends  at  Strasburg,  who  watched  his  progress 
with  anxiety,  came  to  his  help;  and  further,  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years  the  inhabitants  in  the 
other  four  villages  voluntarily  proposed  that  a 
school  should  be  built  in  each,  of  which  they 
would  cheerfully  bear  all  the  expense !  And  so 
they  did.  The  young  are  the  hope  of  the  world. 
The  men  and  women  of  the  next  generation  will 
be  what  the  children  of  the  present  are.  The 
future  is  only  the  development  of  the  present; 
"  the  child  is  father  to  the  man."  Oberlin  direct- 
ed all  his  energies  to  the  instruction  of  the  young 
of  his  flock.  The  habits  of  the  adults  might  be 
modified,  but  not  eradicated.  The  men  were  as 
ignorant  of  the  commonest  mechanical  arts  as 
their  wives  were  of  domestic  economy  or  home 


OBERLIX,  THE  PASTOB.          185 

comfort.  They  had  passed  their  learning  time. 
Not  so,  however,  with  their  children.  So  Ober- 
lin  selected  the  most  promising,  and  sent  them  to 
Strasburg,  to  acquire  the  trades  of  mason,  car- 
penter, glazier,  wheelwright,  and  blacksmith. 
When  they  returned  to  the  Ban,  they  became  the 
instructors  of  others.  Their  earnings  increased 
the  little  treasuries  of  the  district,  while  their  skill 
accelerated  its  improvements. 

The  schools  which  Avere  erected  were  devoted 
to  the  use  of  children  from  the  age  of  ten  to 
seventeen.  The  shepherd-masters  who  formerly 
played  the  "dominie"  were  cashiered,  and  the 
most  respectable  of  the  inhabitants  were  prevail- 
ed upon  to  take  their  places  under  the  imposing 
title  of  "  regents."  The  plans  of  instruction  were 
drawn  up,  and  the  "  regents"  drilled  in  the  science 
of  education  by  Oberlin.  While  the  schools  were 
working  well  under  his  careful  superintendence, 
he  noticed  that  the  infant  children  were  almost 
wholly  neglected  by  their  parents,  and  were  there- 
fore forming  habits  which  in  after  years  would 
increase  the  task  of  the  schoolmaster,  if  not  alto- 
gether nullify  his  labor.  His  active  mind  at  onco 
devised  a  remedy  for  the  evil.  The  result  was  a 
plan  for  the  establishment  of  Infant  Schools — the 
first  of  the  kind  ever  known.  Experience  of  his 
own  family  and  keen  observation  in  the  families  of 
others,  led  him  to  the  conclusion  that  children 
begin  to  learn  even  in  the  cradle ;  that  at  the 
earliest  age  they  are  capable  of  being  taught  tho 


186  MEN  WHO  HAVE  KISEIST. 

difference  between  right  and  wrong ;  and  are 
easily  trained  to  habits  of  obedience  and  industry. 
His  beloved  and  intelligent  wife  entered  heart  and 
soul  into  his  views.  The  most  pious  and  intelli- 
gent females  of  the  community  were  induced  to 
take  charge  of  the  schools.  For  their  use,  Ober- 
lin  rented  a  large  room  in  each  village,  and  out  of 
his  own  pocket  paid  the  salaries.  The  instruction 
given  to  the  little  ones  was  mingled  with  amuse- 
ment, and  habits  of  attention  and  subordination 
were  formed,  while  information  of  the  most  valu- 
able kind  was  communicated  in  a  manner  which 
rendered  it  attractive  to  the  infant  mind.  The 
songs  of  "  dear  mamma  "  had  left  too  deep  and 
hallowed  an  influence  upon  Oberlin's  mind  to 
cause  him  to  overlook  the  value  of  music  in  the 
instruction  of  youth.  Singing  was  taught  in  all 
the  schools.  At  a  proper  age  the  children  were 
transferred  to  the  public  schools,  prepared,  by  the 
progress  which  they  had  made,  to  enjoy  the  ad. 
vantages  which  were  there  afforded  to  them.  In 
addition  to  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  and  geog- 
raphy, they  were  carefully  instructed  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  agriculture  and  other  industrial  arts,  in 
sacred  and  uninspired  history,  and  in  astronomy. 
Their  religious  cultivation  was  a  task  which  Ober- 
lin  considered  his  own,  and  faithfully  did  he  fulfill  it. 
With  the  view  of  encouraging  the  spirit  of  emu- 
lation between  the  several  schools,  and  to  improve 
the  modes  of  instruction  pursued  by  the  various 
masters,  a  weekly  meeting  of  all  the  scholars  was 


OBERLLN",    THE   PASTOE.  187 

held  at  Waldbach.  By  this  the  machinery  of  the 
whole  was  kept  bright  and  in  good  working  order. 
The  master  and  the  pupils  were  stimulated,  know- 
ing that  the  wreekly  meeting  would  bring  disgrace 
to  the  idle,  but  to  the  industrious  and  good  public 
commendation,  and  the  approval  of  "  dear  papa," 
as  Oberlin  wras  called  by  his  people.  In  addition 
to  this  weekly  examination,  on  every  Sabbath,  at 
each  village  church  in  rotation,  the  children  assem- 
bled to  sing  the  hymns  and  to  repeat  the  passages 
of  Scripture  which  they  had  learned  during  the 
week.  At  the  close  he  usually  gave  them  an 
address  ;  and  superlatively  happy  was  the  child  or 
young  person  who  was  fortunate  enough  to  merit 
the  approving  smile  of  "  dear  papa." 

His  benevolent  efforts  were  well  seconded  by 
the  Christians  of  Strasburg.  They  sent  him  several 
sums  of  money,  all  of  which  were  devoted  by  him 
to  the  public  use.  A  printing-press  was  added  to 
the  resources  of  the  Ban.  This  enabled  him  to  print 
several  books  which  he  composed  and  compiled  for 
the  exclusive  use  of  the  schools  and  his  parishioners, 
and  to  award  prizes  both  to  the  teachers  and  pupils. 
He  also  made  a  collection  of  indigenous  plants, 
and  procured  an  electrical  machine,  and  several 
other  philosophical  instruments ;  various  works  on 
natural  history  and  general  science  were  circulated 
on  the  "  book  society  "  plan,  each  village  retaining 
them  for  three  months,  care  being  taken  that  every 
house,  according  to  the  number  of  the  family,  pos- 
sessed them  for  a  definite  time.  Every  individual 


188  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

was  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  it  was  a 
first  duty,  as  well  as  a  great  privilege,  to  promote 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  mankind. 
Every  work  which  was  undertaken  of  a  public  or 
private  nature  was  discharged,  each  one  bearing 
in  mind  his  responsibility  to  promote  the  prosper- 
ity of  all,  by  "  provoking  his  neighbor  to  love  and 
to  good  works."  Thus  the  Ban  was  changed. 
Where  ignorance  and  its  never-failing  attendants, 
cruelty,  vice,  poverty,  reigned  supreme,  piety  in- 
telligence, meekness,  and  plenty,  held  triumphant 
sway. 

All  that  knew  him  loved  him.  His  worth  was 
acknowledged  not  only  by  those  who  were  near, 
but  by  those  who  were  far  off.  Louis  XVIII. 
sent  him  the  ribbon  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and 
the  royal  agricultural  society  of  France  voted  him 
a  gold  medal.  When  Count  Fran9ois  de  ISTeuf- 
chateau  proposed  this  vote,  he  said,  "  If  you 
would  behold  an  instance  of  what  may  be  effected 
in  any  country  for  the  advancement  of  agriculture 
and  the  interests  of  humanity,  friends  of  the  plough 
and  of  human  happiness,  ascend  the  Yosges  Moun- 
tains, and  behold  the  Ban  de  la  Roche  !  "  At  the 
time  of  the  foundation  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  his  fame  had  spread  into  Britain ; 
and  one  of  the  first  grants  made  by  the  Society  was 
to  pastor  Oberlin  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  Ban. 

Oberlin's  heaviest  trial,  though  not  his  first,  was 
the  loss  of  his  wife.  She  died  in  January,  1784, 
in  the  sixteenth  year  of  their  unioi\.  She  departed 


OBEKLIX,    THE    PASTOE.  189 

almost  suddenly,  leaving  him  seven,  out  of  nine, 
children,  the  youngest  being  only  about  ten  weeks 
old.  Nothing  could  be  more  characteristic  than 
his  conduct  on  this  distressing  occasion.  Her 
death  was  wholly  unlooked-for.  When  the  intel- 
ligence was  brought  to  him,  he  was  stunned,  and 
remained  for  some  time  in  silence,  quite  incapable 
of  giving  utterance  to  his  feelings.  He  then  fell 
on  his  knees  and  returned  "  thanks  to  God  that 
his  beloved  partner  was  now  beyond  the  reach  or 
need  of  prayer,  and  that  her  heavenly  Father  had 
crowned  the  abundance  of  His  mercies  towards 
her,  by  giving  her  so  easy  a  departure."  At  their 
marriage  they  had  prayed  that  they  might  always 
have  death  before  their  eyes,  and  always  be  pre- 
pared for  it ;  and  "  if  it  be  a  thing,"  they  added, 
"  which  we  may  ask  of  Thee,  oh  !  grant  that  we  be 
not  long  separated  one  from  another,  but  that  the 
death  of  one  may  speedily,  very  speedily,  follow 
that  of  the  other."  From  the  period  of  his  wife's 
death  a  deepened  seriousness  was  observable  in  his 
conversation  and  deportment.  He  was  grave,  not 
gloomy.  A  word  of  repining  or  murmuring  never 
escaped  his  lips.  It  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it 
was  right.  About  six  months  after  he  had  laid 
her  in  the  grave,  he  composed  an  address  to  his 
parishioners,  and  laid  it  aside,  to  be  delivered  to 
hem  after  his  decease,  as  his  last  charge.  In  this 
document  he  briefly  states  when  and  where  he  was 
born,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  Ban,  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  tfye  number  of  his  children,  "  two  of 


190  MEN    WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

whom,"  he  said,  "  have  already  entered  paradise, 
and  seven  remain  in  this  world ;"  he  also  names 
the  day  and  the  circumstances  in  which  his  wife 
died. 

"  Upon  this  occasion,"  he  goes  on  to  say,  "  as 
upon  a  thousand  others  in  the  course  of  my  life, 
notwithstanding  my  overwhelming  affliction,  I  was 
upheld  by  God's  gracious  assistance  in  a  very  re- 
markable manner.  I  have  had  all  my  life  a  desire, 
occasionally  a  very  strong  one,  to  die,  owing  in 
some  measure  to  the  consciousness  of  my  moral 
infirmities  and  of  my  frequent  derelictions.  My 
affection  for  my  wife  and  children,  and  my  attach- 
ment to  my  parish,  have  sometimes  checked  this 
desire,  though  for  short  intervals  only.  I  had, 
about  a  year  since,  some  presentiment  of  my  ap- 
proaching end.  I  did  not  pay  much  attention  to 
it  at  the  time ;  but,  since  the  death  of  my  wife,  I 
have  received  unequivocal  warnings  of  the  same 
nature.  Millions  of  times  have  I  besought  God  to 
enable  me  to  surrender  myself  with  entire  and 
filial  submission  to  his  will,  either  to  live  or  die, 
and  to  bring  me  into  such  a  state  of  resignation  as 
neither  to  wish,  nor  to  say,  nor  to  do,  nor  to  under- 
take anything,  but  what  He,  who  only  is  wise  and 
good,  sees  to  be  best.  Having  had  such  frequent 
intimations  of  my  approaching  end,  I  have  ar- 
ranged all  my  affairs  as  far  as  I  am  able,  in  order 
to  prevent  confusion  after  my  death.  For  my 
dear  children  I  fear  nothing;  but  as  I  always 
greatly  preferred  being  useful  to  others  to  giving 


OBERLIN,  THE  PASTOE.          191 

them  trouble,  I  suffer  much  from' the  idea  that 
they  may  occasion  sorrow  or  anxiety  to  the  friends 
who  take  charge  of  them.  May  God  abundantly 
reward  them  for  it !  With  regard  to  my  children 
themselves  I  have  no  anxiety ;  for  I  have  had  such 
frequent  experience  of  the  mercy  of  God  towards 
myself,  and  place  such  full  reliance  upon  his  good- 
ness, his  wisdom,  and  his  love,  as  to  render  it  im- 
possible for  me  to  be  at  all  solicitous  about  them. 
Their  mother  was  at  a  very  early  age  deprived  of 
her  parents ;  but  she  was,  notwithstanding,  a  better 
Christian  than  thousands  who  have  enjoyed  the 
advantages  of  parental  instruction.  Besides,  I 
know  that  God  hears  our  prayers  ;  and  ever  since 
the  birth  of  our  children,  neither  their  mother  nor 
I  have  ceased  to  supplicate  him  to  make  them 
faithful  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  laborers  in 
his  vineyard.  And  thou,  O  my  dear  parish ! 
neither  will  God  forsake  thee.  He  has  towards 
thee,  as  I  have  often  said,  thoughts  of  peace  and 
mercy.  All  things  will  go  well  with  thee;  only 
cleave  thou  to  him,  and  leave  him  to  act.  Oh! 
mayest  thou  forget  my  n&me,  and  retain  only  that 
of  Jesus  Christ,  whom  I  have  proclaimed  to  thee. 
lie  is  thy  pastor ;  I  am  but  his  servant.  He  is 
that  good  Master  who,  after  having  trained  and 
prepared  me  from  my  youth,  sent  me  to  thee  that 
I  might  be  useful.  He  alone  is  wise,  good,  al- 
mighty, and  merciful ;  and  as  for  me,  I  am  but  a 
poor,  feeble,  wretched  man."  .  .  .  This  touching 
document  concludes  thus :  "  O,  my  God !  let  thine 


192  MEN   WHO   HATE   RISEN. 

eye  watch  over  my  dear  parishioners ;  let  thine  ear 
be  open  to  hear  them ;  thine  arm  be  extended  to 
succor  and  protect  them !  Lord  Jesus,  thou 
hast  intrusted  this  parish  to  my  care,  feeble  and 
miserable  as  I  am ;  oh !  suffer  me  to  commend 
it  to  thee — to  resign  it  into  thy  hands.  Give 
it  pastors  after  thine  own  heart ;  never  forsake 
it;  overrule  ah1  things  for  its  good!  Enlighten 
them,  guide  them,  love  them,  bless  them  all ;  and 
grant  that  the  young  and  old,  the  teachers  and  the 
taught,  pastors  and  parishioners,  may  all,  in  due 
time,  meet  together  in  thy  paradise!  Even 
so,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit !  Even  so. 
Amen !" 

Forty-two  years  after  this  parting  address  was 
written,  it  was  found  among  his  papers,  and  was 
read  in  the  churchyard  to  his  assembled  people, 
before  his  body  was  lowered  down  into  the  grave. 
Those  forty-two  years  were  spent,  like  those  that 
preceded  them,  in  unremitting  attention  to  the 
instruction  of  his  flock.  The  death  of  his  sons, 
which  took  place  when  they  had  attained  the  age 
of  manhood,  seemed  only  to  quicken  his  diligence, 
and  to  deepen  his  solicitude  respecting  the  eternal 
welfare  of  his  charge.  The  apostolic  injunction 
came  with  power  to  his  heart — he  was  "  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season,"  and  always  "  fervent  in 
spirit."  He  did  not  content  himself  with  preach- 
ing publicly,  but  paid  pastoral  visits  to  every 
cottage  in  his  large  parish,  and  conversed  with 
the  people  upon  their  spiritual  condition,  and 


OBERLIN,  THE  PASTOR.  193 

upon  the  various  efforts  which  were  made  by 
benevolent  individuals  to  diffuse  religious  know- 
ledge throughout  the  world.  On  every  Friday 
he  conducted  a  service  in  German,  for  the  benefit 
of  about  two  hundred  persons  in  the  Ban,  to 
whom  that  language  was  more  familiar  than  the 
French.  At  his  Friday  evening  service  he  used 
to  lay  aside  all  form,  and  the  now  silvery-headed 
old  man  seemed  more  like  a  father  surrounded  by 
his  children  than  the  minister  of  an  extensive  dis- 
trict. At  those  meetings,  in  order  that  no  time 
might  be  lost,  he  used  to  make  his  female  hearers 
knit  stockings  for  their  poorer  neighbors,  not  for 
themselves ;  it  was  a  work  of  charity,  he  said,  and 
needed  not  to  either  distract  their  attention  or  to 
diminish  their  devotion.  When  he  had  for  some 
time  read  and  expounded  the  Bible  to  them,  he 
would  often  say,  "  Well,  children,  are  you  not 
tired  ?  Have  you  had  enough  ?"  If  they  said, 
"  Enough  for  one  time,"  he  would  leave  off;  but 
the  more  frequent  reply  was,  "  JSTo,  dear  papa,  go 
on  ;  we  should  like  to  hear  a  little  more !  "  His 
discourses  for  the  Sabbath  were  carefully  prepared. 
In  them  he  preserved  a  colloquial  plainness,  scru- 
pulously avoiding  the  use  of  words  or  phrases 
which  were  not  level  to  the  apprehension  of  his 
hearers.  He  drew  largely  upon  natural  history, 
with  which  his  people  were  well  acquainted,  for 
illustration;  and  he  frequently  introduced  bio- 
graphical anecdotes  of  persons  who  were  eminent 
for  piety  or  benevolence. 
13 


194:  MEN   WHO    IIAYE   KISEST. 

The  close  of  his  earthly  career  was,  like  that  of 
a  summer  day,  calm  and  peaceful.  His  was  a 
green  old  age,  the  snows  of  time,  although  they 
rested  upon  his  head,  sent  no  chill  into  the  warm 
affections  of  his  heart.  In  the  latter  part  of  his 
life,  the  increasing  infirmities  of  age  prevented 
him  from  occupying  himself,  as  he  was  wont,  in 
the  discharge  of  his  pastoral  duty.  If  he  could 
not  visit  nor  preach  to  his  flock,  he  could  pray  for 
them.  The  sand  was  now  low  in  the  glass.  The 
last  grain  ran  out  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of 
June,  1826,  when  he  was  in  the  eighty-sixth  year 
of  his  age.  The  illness  which  preceded  his  de- 
parture continued  for  four  days.  On  the  morning 
of  the  first  of  June,  at  six  o'clock,  his  pain  abated. 
His  children  were  grouped  around  his  bed,  and  at 
intervals  he  clasped  their  hands  arid  pressed  them 
to  his  heart.  His  limbs  soon  became  cold  and 
lifeless,  and  he  lost  the  use  of  his  speech.  His 
last  act  was  to  take  off  his  cap,  and  to  join  his 
hands  as  in  prayer,  and  to  raise  his  eyes  toward 
heaven ;  his  countenance  as  he  did  so,  beaming 
with  joy  and  love.  He  closed  his  eyes  never  to 
open  them  again  until  the  day  of  the  resurrection. 
About  eleven  o'clock,  the  toll  of  the  passing-bell 
informed  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  that  he  who 
had  watched  over  them  for  nearly  sixty  years 
would  watch  no  more. 

Four  days  afterwards  he  was  buried.  During 
the  interval  which  elapsed  between  his  decease 
and  the  simple  and  affecting  ceremony  which  con- 


OBEKLIX,    TIIE   PASTOE.  195 

signed  his  remains  to  the  grave,  heavy  clouds 
rested  on  the  surrounding  mountains,  and  the 
rain  poured  down  in  incessant  torrents.  Nature 
seemed  to  sympathise  with  the  feelings  which 
swelled  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  which  bowed 
their  souls  with  the  sineerest  sorrow.  Oberlin's 
remains  were  placed  in  a  coffin  with  a  glass  lid, 
and  laid  in  his  study,  where,  despite  of  the  in- 
clemency of  the  weather,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Ban  and  of  the  surrounding  districts  (of  ah1  ages, 
conditions,  and  religious  denominations)  congre- 
gated to  take  a  farewell  look  at  his  beloved  face. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  fixed  for  the 
interment,  the  clouds  cleared  away  and  the  sun 
shone  with  its  wonted  brilliancy.  As  the  pro- 
cession left  the  house,  the  president  of  the  consis- 
tory of  Bai-r  placed  Oberlin's  clerical  robes  upon 
the  coffin,  the  vice-president  of  the  consistory 
placed  his  Bible  upon  it,  and  the  mayor  affixed 
the  decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  to  the 
funeral  pall.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  ceremony, 
ten  or  twelve  young  females,  who  had  been  stand- 
ing round  the  bier,  sung  a  hymn,  and  at  t^vo 
o'clock  the  procession  began  to  move,  the  coffin 
being  borne  by  the  mayors,  elders,  and  official 
magistrates  of  the  Ban  and  of  the  neighboring 
communes. 

The  region  round  about  seemed  to  have  sent 
forth  all  its  inhabitants,  so  great  was  the  concourse 
which  assembled.  The  interment  took  place  at 
Foudai,  two  miles  distant  from  Oberlin's  house, 


196  MEN  WHO  HAVE   RISEN". 

but  the  foremost  of  the  funeral  train  had  reached 
the  churchyard  before  the  last  had  left  the  par- 
sonage !  The  children  and  youths  of  the  differ- 
ent schools  formed  part  of  the  melancholy  pro- 
cession, chanting  at  intervals  sacred  hymns,  se- 
lected and  adapted  to  the  occasion.  When  they 
approached  Foudai,  a  new  bell,  which  had  been 
presented  in  commemoration  of  this  day  of  sor- 
row, was  heard  to  toll  for  the  first  time,  and  to 
mingle  its  melancholy  sound  with  the  bells  of  the 
valley.  The  burying-ground  was  surrounded  by 
Roman  Catholic  women,  ah1  dressed  in  deep 
mourning,  and  kneeling  in  silent  prayer.  On 
arriving  at  the  church,  the  coffin  was  placed  at 
the  foot  of  the  communion-table,  and  as  many 
persons  entered  as  the  little  place  would  contain, 
the  great  multitude  having  to  remain  in  the 
churchyard  and  the  adjoining  lanes.  Notwith- 
standing the  presence  of  so  great  a  number  of 
persons,  the  utmost  order  and  solemnity  prevailed. 
Several  persons,  who  could  find  room  nowhere 
else,  sat  down  on  the  steps  beside  the  coffin,  as  if 
anxious  to  cling  to  the  ashes  of  one  whom  they 
loved  so  well.  Many  distinguished  persons  were 
present,  and  several  Roman  Catholic  priests, 
dressed  in  their  canonicals,  sat  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  consistory.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
president's  address,  a  hymn  was  sung,  and  the 
coffin  borne  to  the  grave,  which  is  on  one  side  of 
the  little  church,  beneath  a  weeping  willow  that 
shades  the  tomb  of  his  son  Henry.  Here,  amidst 


OBERLTX,    TIIE   PASTOR.  197 

the  tears  of  the  assembled  thousands,  the  earth 
was  heaped  upon  the  house  of  clay  which  once 
contained  the  spirit  of  John  Frederic  Oberlin,  the 
world's  benefactor,  while  the  humble  and  Christ- 
like  pastor  of  the  Ban  de  la  Roche. 

Reader,  do  you  wish  to  die  as  he  died  ?  If  so, 
live  as  he  lived ;  and  your  memory,  like  his,  will 
be  green  and  fragrant  throughout  all  ages. 


ELIHU  BUBKITT,  THE  LINGUIST. 

ELIHU  BUKKITT  was  born  at  New  Britain,  Con- 
necticut, on  the  llth  of  December,  1811.  He 
was  the  son  of  a  shoemaker,  who  reared  a  family 
of  five  children  in  the  fear  of  God  and  love  of 
virtue.  During  Elihu's  boyhood,  he  assisted  his 
father  with  the  lap-stone ;  about  four  months  of 
every  year  he  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  attending 
the  district  school,  but  the  remainder  of  his  time 
was  required  as  a  contribution  to  the  general  laboi 
necessary  for  the  support  of  the  family.  Elihu 
lost  his  father  when  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  It  now 
became  necessary  for  him  to  strike  out  a  path  for 
himself;  he  determined  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade ;  and,  entering  into  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments, he  apprenticed  himself  to  a  blacksmith, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age. 

At  a  very  early  age  Elihu  evinced  an  extraordi- 
nary thirst  for  knowledge.  He  read  everything 
upon  which  he  could  lay  his  hands.  When  he 


ELIHO    BUIiRITT,  THE   LINGUIST.  199 

entered  upon  his  apprenticeship  he  was  familiar 
with  the  Bible,  the  history  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  had  the  advantage  of  a  few  desultory 
volumes.  But  he  now  had  access  to  the  town 
library,  which  he  availed  himself  of  with  so  much 
assiduity,  that  in  a  brief  period  he  had  exhausted 
every  book  of  history  upon  its  shelves.  He  next 
turned  to  poetry.  This  kind  of  reading  he  was 
very  fond  of;  he  perused  Thomson's  Seasons, 
Young's  Night  Thoughts,  Pollock's  Course  of 
Time,  Shakespeare  and  Milton.  But  his  passion 
for  reading  did  not  retard  his  advancement  in  his 
trade ;  he  became  a  first-rate  blacksmith,  as  well 
as  an  earnest  scholar.  Having  exhausted  the 
library  and  mastered  his  trade,  he  now  became 
animated  with  a  desire  to  obtain  access  to  those 
authors  who  were  beyond  his  reach.  Scholarship 
became  his  pastime.  His  indentures  having  ter- 
minated, he  placed  himself  under  the  tuition  of 
his  brother,  a  lawyer  and  a  man  of  education. 
This  gentleman  enabled  him  to  pursue  the  study 
of  mathematics  ;  he  also  took  up  Latin  and  French. 
Employing  his  winter  this  way,  in  the  spring  he 
returned  to  his  forge,  and,  in  order  to  make  up  for 
lost  time  and  supply  himself  with  the  means  of 
pursuing  his  studies,  he  undertook  to  do  the  work 
of  two  men,  laboring  hard  at  the  anvil  for  over 
fourteen  hours  a  day. 

"After  he  could  read  French  with  pleasure," 
says  the  Reverend  R.  W.  Bailey,  to  whom  we  are 
iudebted  for  the  materials  of  this  sketch,  "he  took 


200  MEN    WHO    HAVE    RISEN. 

up  Spanish.  After  reading  the  Spanish  with  ease 
he  commenced  the  Greek,  carrying  his  grammar  in 
his  hat  while  he  worked,  and  studying  at  the  anvil 
and  the  forge.  He  pursued  this  course  until  the 
fall  of  the  year  (1833.)  He  then  made  his  ar- 
rangements to  devote  himself  to  study  for  another 
winter.  He  went  to  New  Haven,  not  so  much,  as 
he  said,  to  find  a  teacher,  as  under  the  conviction 
that  there  was  the  proper  place  to  study.  As  soon 
as  he  arrived  he  sat  down  to  the  reading  of  Ho- 
mer's Iliad  alone,  without  notes,  or  translation,  or 
any  other  help.  At  the  close  of  the  first  day, 
after  intense  application,  he  had  read  fifteen  lines, 
much  to  his  own  satisfaction.  After  this  success- 
ful effort,  he  determined  to  go  on  without  a 
teacher ;  he  accordingly  made  a  systematic  dis- 
tribution of  his  time  and  studies.  He  rose  at  four, 
and  studied  German  until  breakfast,  then  studied 
Greek  until  noon,  then  spent  an  hour  at  Italian. 
In  the  afternoon  he  studied  Greek  until  night,  and 
then  studied  Spanish  until  bed-time.  This  course 
he  continued  until  he  could  read  two  hundred 
lines  a  day  of  Homer,  besides  carrying  forward 
the  other  studies  in  their  order.  During  the  win- 
ter he  read  twenty  books  of  Homer's  Iliad,  be- 
sides studying  with  equal  success  the  other 
languages  in  the  hours  assigned  to  them." 

In  the  Spring  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  teach 
a  grammar-school.  In  this  situation  he  remained 
for  a  year;  he  then  acted  as  agent  for  a  manu- 
facturing company,  and  traveled  extensively 


ELIHU   BILKRITT,  THE   LINGUIST.  20l 

through  the  country.  During  this  period  his  studies 
were  nearly  entirely  interrupted.  He  returned  to 
the  anvil  once  more,  and  resumed  his  studies  with 
fresh  enthusiasm.  He  soon  became  proficient  in 
the  ancient  and  European  languages,  and  turned 
his  attention  to  the  Oriental  tongues.  The  means 
for  acquiring  these  were  limited.  He  determined 
to  enlist  as  a  sailor,  that  he  might  travel  to  places 
more  available  for  this  purpose.  He  proceeded  to 
Boston  and  endeavored  to  obtain  a  ship.  He  was 
unsuccessful ;  but  while  in  that  city  he  heard  of  the 
American  Antiquarian  Society  at  Worcester.  He 
proceeded  there  at  once,  and  found,  as  he  says, 
such  a  collection  of  books  on  ancient,  modern,  and 
Oriental  languages  as  he  never  before  conceived  to 
be  collected  together  in  one  place.  The  use  of 
this  library  was  at  once  tendered  him  ;  he  made 
arrangements  to  study  three  hours  a  day,  and  work 
at  the  anvil  for  his  support  at  other  times.  In  this 
manner  he  pursued  the  study  of  the  most  difficult 
of  the  languages,  and  advanced  with  such  marvel- 
ous rapidity  that  before  he  left  Worcester  he  was 
able  to  read  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin,  Gaelic,  Eng- 
lish, Welsh,  Irish,  Celtic,  French,  Spanish,  Portu- 
guese, Italian,  German,  Flemish,  Saxon,  Gothic, 
Icelandic,  Polish,  Bohemian,  Russian,  Sclavonic, 
Armenian,  Turkish,  Chaldaic,  Syriac,  Samaritan, 
Arabic,  Ethiopia,  Indian,  Sanscrit,  and  Tamul. 

Mr.  Bailey  publishes  an  interesting  account  of  a 
visit  to  Mr.  Burritt's  smithy.     "  On  my  first  ar- 
9* 


202  .         MEN    WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

rival  at  Worcester,  I  proceeded  directly  from  the 
cars  to  inquire  out  Mr.  Burritt.  After  two  or 
three  directions,  I  arrived  at  an  extensive  iron 
foundry.  In  a  long  line  of  workshops  I  was 
directed  to  that  in  which  Mr.  Burritt  was  em- 
ployed. I  entered,  and,  seeing  several  forges, 
sought  for  the  object  of  my  visit.  'He  has  just 
left,  and  is  probably  in  his  study,'  said  a  son  of 
Vulcan,  resting  his  hammer  on  his  shoulder  mean- 
while ;  '  there  is  his  forge,'  pointing  to  one  that 
was  silent.  I  had  but  a  moment  to  study  it.  Its 
entire  structure  and  apparatus  resembled  ordinary 
forges,  except  that  it  was  neater  and  in  better 
order.  Mr.  Burritt  is  a  bachelor  and  a  journey- 
man, and  earns  a  shilling  an  hour  by  contract  with 
the  proprietor  of  this  foundry.  He  lives  and  fur- 
nishes himself  with  books  by  this  laborious  appli- 
cation to  his  trade.  Seeing  on  his  table  what  ap- 
peared to  be  a  diary,  I  read  as  follows  :  '  August 
18.  Forged  16  hours — read  Celtic  3  hours — trans- 
lated 2  pages  of  Icelandic,  and  three  pages  of 
German.'  This  was  a  single  item  of  similar  records 
which  run  through  the  book.  To  abate  my  sur- 
prise, he  told  me  that  this  was  a  correct  memoran- 
dum of  the  labors  of  every  day ;  but  the  sixteen 
hours  of  labor  was  that  which  he  performed  in  a 
job,  and  for  which  he  was  paid  by  the  estimate  of 
its  value,  but  that  he  performed  it  in  eight  hours, 
thus  gaining  both  time  and  money  by  double  labor. 
Eight  hours  a  day  is  his  ordinary  habit  of  labor  at 


ELIIIU   BUKEITT,  THE   LINGUIST.  203 

the  forge."  The  same  writer  describes  Mr.  Bur- 
ritt  (1843)  as  a  person  of  middle  stature,  rather 
slender  proportions,  high,  receding  forehead, 
deeply  set,  steady,  grayish  eye,  thin  visage,  fail- 
complexion,  thin,  compressed  upper  lip,  a  hectic 
glow,  and  hair  bordering  on  the  brown  or  auburn. 

In  1844  Mr.  Burritt  commenced  the  publication 
of  a  newspaper  called  the  "  Christian  Citizen,"  and 
from  that  time  has  been  largely  known  for  his  ad- 
vocacy of  peace  doctrines — views  which  he  has 
disseminated  with  enthusiasm.  He  is  also  an  ad- 
vocate of  an  ocean  penny  postage,  in  the  further- 
ance of  which  he  has  visited  Europe,  and  delivered 
popular  lectures  in  several  of  the  principal  cities. 
Mr.  Burritt's  literary  productions  include,  mainly, 
"Sparks  from  the  Anvil,"  "A  Voice  from  the 
Forge,"  and  Peace  Papers  for  the  People."  He 
has  also  printed  some  translations  from  the  north- 
ern classics. 

"  Mr.  Burritt  furnishes  a  remarkable  instance  of 
what  may  be  accomplished  by  perseverence  in  spite 
of  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances.  A  forge, 
of  all  places  in  the  world,  would  seem  the  least 
favorable  for  the  prosecution  of  studies  demanding 
an  unusual  concentration  of  mind ;  yet,  by  a  con- 
tented exercise  of  the  will,  Mr.  Burritt  was  deaf 
to  the  tumult  which  surrounded  him,  and  was 
able  to  accomplish  an  amount  of  study  which 
places  him  in  the  front  rank  of  great  scholars. 
The  other  phase  of  his  character,  in  which  he  has 
manifested  decided  originality  and  philanthropy, 


204:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

will  be  better  appreciated  when  the  beneficence  of 
his  efforts  are  reviewed  by  the  historian.  In  every 
respect  Mr.  Burritt  is  great  and  noble,  and  his 
name  will  descend  to  future  generations  as  a  brigh* 
example  of  a  self-made  man." 


WILHELM,  THE  KNTFE-GKINDEB. 

"  KNIVES  to  grind !"  cried  Wilhelm,  as  he  limped 
through  the  streets  of  Brussels,  driving  his  old 
crazy  machine  before  him.  "  Knives  and  scissors 
to  grind !"  Wilhelm  did  not  limit  his  trade  to  the 
grinding  of  knives  and  scissors  exclusively ;  he 
would  not  refuse  to  put  an  edge  upon  a  butcher's 
cleaver,  and  he  was  even  very  thankful  to  obtain 
a  hatchet  to  reduce  to  chopping  acuteness,  but  he 
only  cried  "  Knives  and  scissors  to  grind,"  as  has 
been  the  custom  of  itinerant  cutlers  since  the  days 
of  Cataline.  Wilhelm  drove  his  machine  before 
him  very  slowly,  and  he  perhaps  required  to  do 
so,  as  it  was  rather  fragile  in  its  constitution ;  but 
he  called  "Knives  to  grind"  with  a  lusty,  cheer- 
ful, happy  voice,  that  seemed  to  belie  his  own 
constitution ;  for  he,  too,  like  his  precursor  com- 
bination of  beams,  and  stones,  and  wheels,  was 
none  of  the  most  robust  of  creation's  works.  He 
was  a  little,  ragged,  lame,  and  feeble  Fleming, 
with  an  old  and  woll-worn  grinding  wheel  as  his 


206  MEN   WHO   HAVE  KISEN. 

only  property  ;  and  anybody  particular  in  affinities 
would  have  said  they  were  made  for  each  other. 

AVilhelni's  face  would  have  been  notified  merely 
as  "  a  face,"  by  a  passer  by.  Any  one  would  have 
been  satisfied  at  a  glance  that  it  was  deficient  in 
none  of  the  constituent  parts  of  the  human  visage ; 
but  the  thought  of  whether  it  was  beautiful  or 
ugly  would  never  have  intruded  itself  amongst 
his  impressions.  His  large,  old,  broad-brimnied 
hat  was  slouched  over  his  back  and  shoulders,  and 
threw  a  deep  shade  upon  his  brow ;  and  then, 
again,  his  thick  black  hair  clung  in  large  curls 
down  his  pale  cheeks,  and  also  partly  obscured  his 
features ;  so  that  Wilhelm's  countenance  was  not 
put  forward  to  advantage  like  those  of  the  bucks 
who  promenaded  the  Boulevards,  and  therefore  it 
might  be  full  of  hidden  beauties  for  aught  the 
world  knew.  His  well-patched  blouse  hung  loosely 
round  his  spare  form,  investing  it  with  even  more 
than  its  own  due  proportion  of  apparent  robust- 
ness; but  poverty's  universal  and  palpable  mantle 
hung  over  him  all,  with  a  truthful  tell-tale  earnest- 
ness of  whose  reality  there  could  be  no  mistake. 
In  this  guise  Wilhelm  limped  along,  then,  crying 
out  for  customers,  and  looking  sharply  about  him 
for  the  same.  He  would  turn  his  glancing  eyes  to 
the  high  windows  of  the  quaint  wooden-fronted 
houses,  from  which  pretty  damsels  were  looking 
into  the  street,  and  then  he  would  look  earnestly 
at  the  portly  merchants  who  leant  lazily  over  their 
half  doors;  but,  though  neither  dame  nor  burgber 


WILHELM,    THE   KtflFE-GKINDEK.  207 

would  pay  any  attention  to  him,  Wilhelm  would 
still  jog  on  and  shout  as  gaily  as  if  he  were  a  wild 
bird  uttering  his  accustomed  cry. 

It  was  through  the  lower  or  Flemish  part  of  the 
city  that  the  knife-grinder  pursued  his  slow  and  de- 
vious course,  and  either  mantua-making  and  knife- 
using  were  at  a  discount,  or  all  these  utensils  had 
been  in  good  repair  in  that  quarter,  for  poor  Wil- 
helm had  little,  save  the  echo  of  his  own  cry  from 
the  throat  of  some  precocious  urchin,  for  his  pains. 

Up  one  street  went  Wilhelm,  and  down  another. 
He  often  rested  in  front  of  the  great  Church  of  St. 
Gudule,  and  looked  admiringly  at  its  architecture, 
for  he  had  a  strong  love  for  the  beautiful,  although 
he  Avas  only  a  knife-grinder;  and  sometimes  he 
would  seat  himself  upon  the  handle  of  his  machine, 
in  order  to  contemplate  the  outward  grandeur  of 
the  Hotel  de  Ville ;  but  if  any  one  had  supposed 
that  there  was  one  envious  thought  in  all  his  con- 
templations, he  did  the  knife-grinder  injustice,  for 
no  envy  had  he,  poor  though  he  was. 

To  those  who  knew  all  about  Wilhelm,  there 
was  nothing  more  incomprehensible  in  the  world 
than  his  lightness  of  heart.  That  he  should  sing 
was  one  of  the  most  startling  of  anomalies — he, 
whose  father,  the  fireman,  perished  in  trying  to 
rescue  his  own  wife  and  Wilhelm's  mother  from 
the  flames  of  his  burning  home.  It  was  often  said 
by  those  who  saw  the  knife-grinder's  ever-cheerful 
aspect,  that  he  might  think  of  his  father  and  mo- 
ther, and  if  nothing  else  could  remind  him  of  them, 


208  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISKN". 

surely  Iris  own  lameness  might ;  for  it  was  upon 
the  night  when  they  perished  that  he  was  afflicted, 
and  yet  he  didn't  seem  to  think  so. 

Wilhelm's  life  was  a  lonely  enough  one,  without- 
adding  to  it  the  pains  and  penalties  of  a  morbid 
melancholy ;  but  some  folks  didn't  think  so,  and 
would  have  had  him  forever  sad  as  well  as  lonely. 
It  was  acknowledged  that  Wilhelm  was  a  wonder- 
ful lad,  however ;  and  as  this  phrase  is  capable  of 
a  multiplicity  of  explications,  ijb  may  be  as  well  to 
state  that  he  had  refused  all  oifers  of  a  pecuniary 
nature  from  anybody  whatever,  had  established 
himself  in  a  little  dwelling,  and  supported  himself 
by  his  grinding-machine,  and  this  is  wrhy  he  was 
termed  wonderful.  If  it  had  been  possible  to  look 
into  the  bosom  of  the  knife-grinder,  there  would 
have  been  seen  throbbing  there,  and  sending 
through  every  channel  of  his  frame  a  current  of 
boundless  love,  a  heart  as  rich  and  pure  as  ever 
bosom  bore.  It  was  a  wonderful  heart,  too ;  for 
it  was  stout  and  strong,  and  bore  up  as  if  it  had 
been  a  giant's  sent  to  animate  a  weakling.  There 
was  no  flinching  in  its  courage,  no  drooping  in  its 
joyous  mood,  no  change  in  its  loving  pulsations 
from  morn  to  night  as  he  plodded  up  one  narrow 
street,  down  another,  through  crossings  and 
squares,  and  courts,  and  by-ways.  Wilhelm  the 
knife-grinder's  heart  was  a  hero's ;  and  let  who 
will  say  otherwise,  we  will  maintain,  with  tongue 
and  pen,  that  it  was,  and  of  the  proudest  order,  too 
It  is  easy,  it  is  natural  for  hearts  to  maintain  their 


WILHELM,    THE   KNIFE-GJRINDEB.  209 

beauty  and  their  .goodness  in  those  sunny  spots  of 
the  world  to  which  love  and  beauty  are  indigenous. 
By  cheerful  hearths,  where,  in  the  ruddy  glow  of 
the  log,  and  in  the  bright  flame,  you  picture  golden 
gardens,  and  caverns,  and  groves,  or  behold  the 
brightly  lighted  faces  of  childhood,  how  can  the 
heart  wither  or  grow  sad  ?  In  the  duality  of  love 
resides  its  natural  life.  Heart  answering  heart, 
bright  eye  enlightening  eye,  kind  words  echoing 
back  love's  gentle  aspirations — these  maintain  the 
eternal  spring  of  the  affections,  as  sunlight  and 
heat  give  to  the  earth  her  summer.  If  Wilhelm 
had  resided  in  the  Park  where  the  nobility  and 
English  dwelt,  or  in  the  great  Sablon  Square 
among  the  merchants  and  savans,  it  would  have 
been  easy  for  one  so  constituted  to  have  been 
happy  and  gay ;  but  to  maintain  a  vital  relation 
to  bright  and  glorious  heaven,  amidst  the  darkness 
and  gloom  of  a  lonely  little  room  in  the  dingiest 
spot  of  the  low  town  of  Brussels,  was  heroism,  let 
the  world  say  as  it  will. 

u  Oh,  have  pity,  and  give  the  poor  little  home- 
less one  a  mite !  "  said  a  soft  and  gentle  voice — so 
soft  and  gentle  that  the  words  might  have  been 
with  propriety  addressed  direct  to  Heaven,  as  well 
as  in  the  ear  of  one  of  Heaven's  humblest  agents 
upon  earth,  Wilhelm  the  knife-grinder. 

It  was  in  a  dark  and  wretched  quarter  of  the 

town  where  he  was  thus  accosted,  a  spot  whose 

gloom  the  shade  of  evening  scarcely  deepened ; 

black  walls,   grim  with  the  smoke  of  ages  and 

14 


210  MEN   WHO    HAVE   KISEN. 

crumbling  to  ruin,  rose  on  either  hand,  and,  con- 
verging at  the  top,  seemed  agreed  to  meet  and 
exclude  the  blue  heavens  and  sunbeams.  Little 
windows,  dirty,  dingy,  broken,  and  rag-patched, 
told  that  these  high  walls  were  the  walls  of  homes, 
and  the  faces  of  human  beings,  peeping  now  and 
again  from  them,  were  the  indices  of  immured  life 
and  thought.  Yet,  even  in  that  lofty  series  of 
chambers,  where  humility  scarcely  could  brook  to 
live,  the  little  outcast,  who  had  breathed  her  pite- 
ous accents  to  Wilhelm,  had  no  spot  to  lay  her 
head. 

"  One  little  farthing  to  buy  a  roll  to  poor  Lelie," 
pursued  the  child,  in  tremulous  tones ;  "  oh,  I  am 
hungry !"  and  she  laid  her  hand  on  that  of  Wil- 
helm, and  looked  up  in  his  face. 

The  knife-grinder's  machine  dropped  from  his 
hands  as  if  he  had  been  suddenly  struck,  and  he 
turned  towards  the  suppliant  with  so  benign  a 
look  that  the  child  smiled  in  his  face  and  crouched 
nearer  to  his  person. 

"Poor  Lelie,"  said  Wilhelm,  descimating  his 
fortune  and  presenting  the  tithe  to  the  infant,  "  art 
thou  hungry?" 

"Yes;  and  cold,  and  sad,"  said  the  child,  art- 
lessly; "I  have  no  father  nor  mother,  nor  any- 
body to  care  for  me  ;  I  am  a  beggar  and  an  out- 
cast." 

The  knife-grinder  held  in  his  breath,  as  he  bent 
to  listen  to  the  words  of  Lelie,  and  when  she  had 
done  he  caught  her  hand,  stretched  himself  proudly 


WILHELM,    TIIE   KNIFE-GRINDER.  211 

up,  and  breathed  long  and  freely,  while  his  eyes 
became  radiant  and  his  face  illumined  with  a  sud- 
den and  noble  purpose. 

"  Alone,  like  me,"  exclaimed  the  knife-grinder ; 
<4  poor  child !  Oh !  is  there  another  even  more 
destitute  of  all  the  reciprocities  of  love  than  lame 
Wilhelm  ?"  and  he  turned  his  kindly  face  towards 
the  little  girl ;  "  I  could  sit  at  my  lone  fire  at  night 
when  the  world  around  me  slept,  and  I  could  hold 
communion  with  my  parents'  spirits  in  silent  peace 
and  joy  ;  but  Lelie,  what  will  night  be  to  her  but 
houseless  horror.  I  am  a  man,"  pursued  Wilhelm, 
again  stretching  himself  and  striving  to  look 
strong;  "lam  independent,"  and  he  shook  the 
coppers  in  his  pocket ;  "  can  I  not  snatch  this 
child  from  sorrow  and  hunger?  Jan  Roos  the 
water-carrier  keeps  a  great  dog,  which  I  am  sure 
will  eat  more  food  than  Lelie — why  not  keep  a 
child  as  well  as  a  dog  ?  "  The  spirit  within  the 
knife-grinder  seemed  to  say,  why  not?  and  the 
spirit  of  the  outcast  child  seemed  to  know  it,  for 
Lelie  crouched  still  closer  to  Wilhelm,  and  looked 
up  in  his  face  as  if  she  knew  him.  "  And  does  no 
one  care  for  you,  Lelie  ? "  said  the  poor  lame 
youth,  softly ;  "  is  there  no  one  to  love  you  ?  " 

"  None  but  the  Father  who  dwells  beyond  the 
stars  with  good  angels,"  said  the  child,  timidly. 

"Then  thou  shalt  go  with  me  for  His  Son's 
sake,"  said  Wilhelm,  snatching  her  up  in  his  arms 
and  kissing  her  pale,  thin  cheek,  as  lovingly  and 
rapturously  as  if  it  had  bloomed  in  health  and 


212  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

beauty.  "  Thou  shalt  go  with  me,  and  I  will  love 
thee  and  take  care  of  thee,  and  thou  shalt  grow 
up  to  be  a  woman,  and  I  will  be  to  thee  as  a 
father.  Sit  there,  Lelie,  and  hold  on  firmly  ;  my 
machine  is  not  very  strong,  but  it  will  bear  thee. 
I  am  not  so  brave  and  stout  as  the  sentinels  at  the 
castle  gate,  but  I  will  be  weaker  if  I  cannot  carry 
thee  home ;  so  here  we  go ; "  and,  with  a  heart 
overflowing  with  feelings  which  he  had  never 
known  before,  and  his  eyes  dancing  with  a  pleasure 
which  surpassed  all  former  emotions,  he  limped  on 
with  his  crazy  wheel  and  smiling  child,  the  proud- 
est man  that  night  in  Brussels. 

"Here  we  are,"  cried  Wilhelm,  as  he  hurled 
Lelie  into  the  dark  passage  of  his  home,  opened 
his  door,  and,  lifting  her  gently  down,  placed  her 
upon  his  cold  hearth-stone.  "It  won't  be  cold 
long,"  cried  he,  laughing  cheerily,  as  he  struck  a 
light  and  applied  it  to  the  wood  from  the  forest  of 
Soignies,  which  filled  his  grate.  "  It  isn't  a  palace 
this,  Lelie ;  but  if  you  are  not  as  happy  as  a  little 
queen,  it  shall  be  no  fault  of  mine.  Come,  let  me 
wash  thy  face  and  hands  with  this  sweet  water 
from  the  Seine,  and  eat  thou  of  this  brown 
bread." 

After  ministering  in  every  possible  way  to  the 
comfort  of  his  protege,  Wilhelm  sat  him  down, 
and  looked  upon  her  with  eyes  that  sparkled  in 
the  light  of  his  crackling  logs.  A  strange  elevat- 
ing sensation  stole  over  his  spirit — a  sense  of  dig- 
nity and  power  that  he  had  never  known  in  his 


WILHELM,    THE   KNTFE-GKIKDEE.  213 

loneliness.  Was  it  not  a  direct  radiation  from 
heaven  which  exalted  the  soul  of  this  poor  man, 
with  an  inward  cognizance  of  paternity  ?  "  My 
child,"  muttered  Wilhelm,  with  a  sweet  smile; 
"  mine  ! — I  now  have  something  to  care  for ; 
something  that  will  learn  to  care  for  me.  Jan 
Roos's  dog  loves  him,  I  know,  and  would  fight 
for  him ;  but  his  dog  is  but  a  brute.  This  young 
Lelie  was  sent  from  heaven,  fresh,  rosy,  and  glow- 
ing with  a  celestial  nature,  and  then  misfortune 
blighted  her,  to  render  her  a  fit  companion  for  the 
heart-lone  Wilhelm  Voss." 

Everybody  wondered  to  see  how  clean  and  neat 
Wilhelm  the  knife-grinder  became  all  at  once. 
He  felt  that  it  was  necessary  to  give  Lelie  a  good 
example  in  all  things,  and  so  he  kept  his  blouse  as 
clean  as  if  every  day  were  Sunday.  A  change 
came  over  the  aspect  of  his  home,  too ;  he  became 
particular  with  regard  to  scrubbing  his  floor,  and 
burnishing  his  two  little  cooking  pans,  and 
arranging  his  crockery ;  and  when  he  took  Lelie 
to  school,  and  paid  a  weekly  instalment  of  what 
he  intended  to  pay  for  her  education,  she  and  he 
were  so  trig  and  neat  that  the  teacher  said  he 
was  glad  to  see  a  brother  have  such  care  over  his 
sister. 

Wilhelm  became  filled  by  degrees  with  a  sense 
of  home  and  an  assurance  of  love.  When  he  was 
abroad,  his  thoughts  were  dancing  in  the  flames  of 
his  own  beaming  hearth,  and  smiling  in  the  face 
of  pretty,  blooming  Lelie,  In  every  penny  he 


214:  MEN   WHO    HAYE   EISKN". 

earned,  he  recognized  her  share ;  in  every  step  he 
took  at  nightfall  towards  his  dwelling,  amongst 
his  anticipations  of  peace,  rest,  and  comfort,  her 
face  was  seen  smiling  him  on,  and  her  hands 
were  seen  spreading  his  board.  Wilhelm's  for- 
tunes began  to  mend  as  the  little  girl  began  to 
grow  up.  He  could  not  account  for  it  unless  as  n 
gracious  dispensation  of  that  Great  Ruler  of  good, 
who  sent  a  double  share  of  work  to  him  for  Lelie's 
sake.  But  work  came  to  him  now,  when  he  didn't 
call  out  for  it ;  and  as  he  was  respectable,  and 
could  go  with  his  new  machine  to  the  Park,  it 
was  astonishing  how  much  money  he  would  carry 
home  in  the  evenings.  Nobody  would  have  be- 
lieved that  the  Wilhelm  Yoss  who  had  his  name 
painted  jauntily  on  a  board  in  front  of  his  machine, 
and  wore  a  smart  blouse  and  beaver,  was  the  same 
lame  Wilhelm  who  bore  home  the  little  foundling 
five  years  previously.  His  cheeks  were  clean  and 
ruddy,  and  his  bright  black  eyes  were  scarcely 
brighter  than  his  well-combed  locks  ;  and  the 
cookmaids  who  brought  him  knives  to  grind  often 
declared  that  his  face  was  very  handsome ;  and, 
blessings  on  their  woman's  hearts,  they  pitied  him 
that  he  was  lame,  and  you  would  have  thought 
that  they  blunted  the  knives  on  purpose,  so  reg- 
ularly did  they  bring  them  to  Wilhelm  to  sharp. 

Little  Lelie  grew  up  as  tall  and  straight  as  a 
poplar,  and  as  beautiful  as  any  orange-tree  in  the 
royal  conservatory  of  Brussels ;  and  how  pleasant 
to  Wi'.helm  to  watch  her  growth  and  opening 


WILHELM,    THE   KNIFE-GRINDER.  215 

loveliness ;  but  he  could  hardly  define  the  happi- 
ness that  thrilled  him,  when  the  truth  dawned 
upon  his  observant  spirit  that  she  was  like  unto 
him  in  her  ways.  Every  little  delicate  kindness 
that  ever  this  lame  knife-grinder  had  shown  to 
tliis  poor  outcast,  she  strove  by  some  spiritual 
impulse  to  reciprocate;  she  loved  him  with  a 
strong  and  passionate  earnestess  that  he  knew 
not  of;  and  every  smile  he  gave  her,  every  happy 
word  he  spoke,  fell  on  her  heart  like  heavenly 
music;  and  it  was  because  of  the  refined  and 
delicate  manners  which  she  observed  in  him,  and 
which  she  so  assiduously  strove  to  imitate,  that 
she  loved  him.  Wilhelm  had  never  hinted  at  the 
link  which  bound  him  and  Lelie  together;  she 
was  old  enough  when  he  found  her  to  know  that 
he  was  no  relation  of  hers ;  and  she  had  so  dis- 
tinct a  remembrance  of  the  vice  amongst  which 
she  had  dwelt,  that  the  gentle  words  which  Wil- 
helm constantly  spoke,  and  the  little  prayers  and 
hymns  which  he  taught  her  to  repeat,  gave  her  at 
first  a  dim  idea  of  maternal  care,  and  then  of 
human  goodness,  which  she  was  constrained  to 
love  and  venerate,  and  to  which  she  had  some 
indefinite  affinity ;  but  she  liad  no  sense  of  cha- 
rity, no  feeling  of  dependence,  for  Wilhelm  had 
consulted  her  about  every  little  household  act, 
and  had  so  identified  her  with  himself  in  ah1  he 
said  or  did,  that  she,  too,  had  no  thought  of  doing 
anything  beyond  the  knowledge  of  "orr  Wil- 
helm." 


216 


MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 


Lelie  Tvould  go  out  of  the  afternoons  to  meet  her 
modest  protector  at  some  appointed  place,  and  the 
knife-grinder  looked  so  happy  and  so  brave,  and 
Lelie  looked  so  beautiful  and  smiling,  that  the 
great  folks  began  to  take  notice  of  the  cheerful 
pair,  and  to  declare  that  that  knife-grinder  and  his 
pretty  sister  deserved  to  be  encouraged.  And  so 
Wilhelm  was  encouraged ;  for,  when  he  opened 
his  cutler  shop  in  the  Place  de  Ville,  customers 
came  pouring  on  him,  and,  assuredly,  Lelie  had  a 
busy  time  of  it  serving  them.  Dinner  sets  of 
knives  and  forks  for  the  quiet,  calculating  dames, 
who  were  queens  in  their  way,  for  each  ruled  a 
home;  long  black  scalpels  for  physicians;  large 
carvers  for  keepers  of  cook-shops ;  pruners  and 
hedgebills  for  agriculturists;  and  hooks  and  scythes 
for  reapers ;  together  with  penknives  for  students 
of  law  and  divinity;  these  constituted  part  of  the 
stock  of  Wilhelm  Yoss,  and  these  were  the  class 
of  his  ready-money,  constant  customers. 

In  twelve  years  from  his  finding  Lelie,  Wilhelm 
was  a  man  of  standing  and  importance  amongst 
the  guildry  of  Brussels.  He  was  esteemed  wise, 
and  good,  and  rich,  which  last  was,  perhaps,  the 
most  important  consideration  of  the  whole  in  the 
eyes  of  some.  But  he  esteemed  himself  especially 
blessed  of  heaven  in  Lelie,  and  she  was  the  chief 
of  all  his  earthly  treasures.  And  what  a  treasure 
of  grace,  and  beauty,  and  affection,  had  that 
young  child  become !  It  was  a  picture  far  finer 
than  any  of  the  paintings  in  the  city  gallery,  and 


WILHELM,    THE   KNIFE-GRINDER.  21 7 

the  finest  of  Flemish  paintings  were  there ;  it  was 
a  finer  sight  than  them  all  to  behold  Lelie  seated 
behind  the  counter  of  Wilhelm's  well-filled  shop, 
on  the  fine  summer  afternoons,  when  the  sunbeams 
streamed  through  the  little  panes,  and  fell  upon 
her  fine  ruddy  cheeks,  smooth  brown  hair,  and  blue 
eyes,  as  she  bent  thoughtfully  over  a  book,  or 
wrought  away  with  her  needle.  Wilhelm,  grown 
a  thoughtful  man,  with  a  dignified  air  that  became 
him  wonderfully  well,  would  stand  and  gaze  upon 
the  maiden  from  his  back  workshop,  and  bless  her 
from  his  heart ;  and  then  he  would  wonder  if  any 
one  could  envy  him  of  this  jewel  of  his  home. 
Was  it  envy,  or  that  most  selfish  of  all  the  pas- 
sions, sometimes  misnamed  love,  that  prompted 
Hitter  Van  Ostt,  the  skinner,  to  come  so  often  to 
the  shop  of  Mynheer  Voss?  He  was  a  great 
gallant,  Hitter,  who  was  ambitious  of  illumining 
the  world ;  for,  like  many  other  people  whose 
money  had  accumulated  in  their  coffers,  he,  with 
great  modesty,  and,  no  doubt,  truth,  felt  assured 
that  his  intellect  had  brightened  and  expanded 
too ;  and  if  there  had  been  an  election  for  pri- 
marius  of  the  University  of  Ghent  or  Louvain, 
and  it  had  been  left  to  Hitter  to  choose  the  fittest 
person  to  fill  the  academical  chair,  he  would  not 
have  required  to  leave  his  bed  to  find  such  a 
person.  He  came  to  the  shop  of  Wilhem  day 
after  day,  finely  done  up  in  velvet  and  linen,  with 
his  beaver  stuck  up  a  little  at  the  side  to  give  it  a 
rakish  air,  and  his  cloak  hung  carelessly  iwon  one 


218  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

shoulder,  in  cavalier  fashion.  He  was  a  very 
large  specimen  of  the  human  frame,  and  he  spoke 
very  loudly  and  authoritatively  upon  everything 
and  even  nothing,  and  few  in  Brussels  thought 
themselves  so  high  and  killing  as  Hitter  Van 
Ostt. 

Brussels  is  a  fine  city.  There  is  the  Park,  with 
its  fine  broad  gravel  walks,  and  its  old  green 
shady  walnut-trees  ;  and  then  there  is  the  Botanic 
Garden,  with  its  orange  grove  as  old  as  the  Prince 
of  Orange  himself;  and  there  are  galleries,  and 
museums,  and  many  other  sights,  all  agreeable  to 
look  upon  and  profitable  to  contemplate.  Hitter 
Yan  Ostt  would  ask  Lelie  Voss  to  accompany 
him  to  all  these  places,  and  Lelie,  who  had  been 
at  them  all  already  with  Wilhelm,  would  refuse, 
and  declare  that  she  had  sufficiently  seen  them ; 
and  then  Ritter  would  appeal  to  Wilhelm,  who, 
remembering  how  happy  she  had  been  with  him, 
would  urge  her  to  go  for  her  own  sake,  but  always 
in  such  tones  that  Lelie  would  still  refuse  three 
times  out  of  five.  And  what  was  it  that  stirred 
Wilhelm  Voss  when  Lelie  would  reluctantly  go 
with  Ritter?  Was  it  the  old  sensation  of  his 
poor  and  lonely  years — -his  sense  of  friendlessness 
that  came  back  upon  him  ?  It  was  a  strange 
vague  feeling — a  dread  of  nothingness,  that  stole 
over  his  heart  as  if  to  extinguish  it.  Ah,  if  Lelie 
were  to  leave  him  now  !  and  then  the  tears  would 
rush  into  his  manly  eyes,  and  Wilhelm  knew  that 
he  loved  her.  It  is  a  truth,  and  an  almost  uni- 


WILHELM,    THE   KNIFE-GRINDEE.  219 

versa!  one,  that  the  strongest  and  most  beautiful 
minds  feel  most  sensitively  the  oppression  of  cor- 
poral infirmities.  Wilhelm  was  lame,  and  he 
knew  that  Lelie  was  surpassing  beautiful.  He 
was  only  twelve  years  her  senior,  and  he  had 
known,  loved,  and  tended  her  longer  than  any 
other  mortal  had ;  but  though  he  had  deemed 
himself  fit  to  be  a  father  and  instructor  to  Lelie, 
he  was  convinced  that  she  would  hardly  reckon 
him  a  fit  companion  to  brighten  and  sustain  her 
life — a  worthy  object  to  whom  she  might  apply 
the  name  of  husband. 

"Ah,  well,  "Wilhelm,  I  shall  tell  Myneer  Van 
Ostt  to  walk  by  himself  henceforth,"  said  Lelie, 
gravely,  as  she  threw  off  her  cloak  and  hood  after 
one  of  her  walks.  "  I  am  done  with  him." 

"  And  why,  dear  Lelie  ?  »  said  Wilhelm. 

"For  various  weighty  reasons,"  said  Lelie, 
smiling,  "  but  chiefly  on  my  own  account." 

"  And  how  on  your  own  account  ?  "  said  Wil- 
helm, earnestly. 

"Lest  I  should  fall  in  love  with  so  stupid  a 
creature,"  said  Lelie,  laughing;  "and  then,  you 
know,  according  to  your  theory,  I  should  become 
like  him." 

Wilhelm  was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  and 
then  he  said,  "  So  you  would  prefer  some  other 
companion  to  Hitter,  Lelie  ?  " 

"Ay,  that  I  would,  to  all  the  Ritters  in  the 
Netherlands.  Do  you  think,  my  own  Wilhelm, 
that  I  am  happy  when  I  am  in  the  gardens  with 


220  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

Van  Ostt  ?  Ah,  if  you  do,  how  mistaken  you 
are ! » 

Wilhelm  was  troubled,  and  then  quietly  said, 
"Hitter  Van  Ostt  is  a  man  of  substance  and  of 
honest  fame " 

"  Oh,  fame  !  "  cried  Lelie,  interrupting  him  ; 
"that  he  blows  forth  most  lustily  himself;  they 
should  put  a  trumpet  in  his  hand  when  they  erect 
his  statue  on  the  top  of  the  Town-House." 

"  I  have  asked  you  to  go  with  Hitter  merely 
because  I  thought  it  would  be  pleasant  for  you  to 
see  the  green  trees,  and  to  inhale  the  fragrance  of 
the  flowers." 

"Then  you  should  come  with  us  if  you  wish 
them  to  be  beautiful  in  themselves  or  agreeable  to 
me,"  said  Lelie,  with  charming  naivete. 

Wilhelm  looked  at  his  portege  in  amazement, 
and  then  a  sweet  smile  overspread  his  face,  as  he 
replied,  "  And  so  you  prefer  to  talk  to  Wilhelm 
and  to  walk  with  him,  although  he  is  not  the  finest 
talker  or  walker  in  Belgium." 

"  This  hearth  is  the  brightest  spot  I  know  or 
have  ever  known  on  earth,"  said  Lelie,  in  low, 
tremulous,  earnest  tones.  "  This  face  is  the  hand- 
somest to  me  in  the  world,"  she  continued,  as  she 
leant  upon  Wilhelm's  breast  and  spread  back  the 
dark  curls  from  his  brow.  "  These  lips  have  ever 
been  the  sweetest  exponents  of  wisdom  and  good- 
ness that  I  have  known.  Ah,  Wilhelm,  Wilhelm ! 
what  should  poor  Lelie  do  if  you  were  to  bid  her 
leave  you  ?  " 


WILHELM,    THE   KNIFE-GRINDEK.  221 

The  knife-grinder  caught  the  earnest  tearful 
girl  in  his  arms,  and  he  gazed  into  her  face.  Was 
he  dreaming?  Was  this  some  passing  illusion 
too  bright  to  last  ?  Ah !  no  ;  for  truth  in  its  in- 
tegrity and  purity  was  reflected  in  her  eyes. 
Through  the  vista  of  a  few  years  he  saw  himself  a 
poor  and  ragged  youth,  friendless  and  almost 
spiritless,  plodding  the  streets  of  his  native  city 
for  the  precarious  bread  derived  from  a  precarious 
calling.  He  saw  a  little  girl  thrown  in  his  path 
even  more  friendless  and  wretched  than  he.  The 
political  economist  who  draws  conclusions  only 
after  casual  reflections  and  with  arithmetical  pre- 
cision, would  inevitably  have  seen  in  the  adoption 
of  this  child  by  Wilhelm  an  addition  to  his  misery; 
but,  by  a  law  which  political  economists  and 
philosophers  have  never  been  able  to  write  down, 
the  blessing  had  come  with  the  burden.  A  good 
deed  more  than  rewards  itself;  the  deed  is  but 
the  action  of  a  moment ;  the  reward  begins  on 
earth,  and  goes  on  increasing  through  eternity. 
From  a  drooping,  almost  satisfied,  son  of  poverty, 
Wilhelm,  by  the  stirring  of  the  nobler  impulses 
of  his  nature,  had  grown  slowly  and  gradually 
into  a  refined  and  honored  man ;  and  Lelie,  from 
a  beggar  and  an  outcast,  had  been  trained  into 
beauty,  goodness,  and  virtue. 

"  Well,  Wilhelm,  I  consider  it  but  right  as  a 
matter  of  courtesy,  and  what  not  ?  "  said  Ritter. 
Ritter  always  finished  his  sentences  with  the  words, 
"  and  what  not."  "  I  consider  it  right,"  said  he, 


222  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

"  to  let  you  know  that  it  is  time  Lelie  was  mar- 
ried." 

"  I  was  thinking  so  myself,"  said  Wilhelm,  as 
he  leant  over  his  counter,  and  smiled  in  the  face 
of  Van  Ostt. 

"  And  I  consider  it  but  right  to  let  you  know 
that  I  mean  to  have  her,  which,  I  daresay,  will  be 
as  agreeable  to  you  as  to  her,  and  what  not  ?" 
said  Hitter,  cocking  up  his  beaver  and  swelling 
out  his  cheeks. 

"  As  agreeable  to  the  one  as  to  the  other,  doubt- 
less," replied  Wilhelm,  quietly. 

"  You  are  a  man  of  substance,  Voss,"  said  the 
skinner,  looking  more  important  than  ever  he  had 
done,  "  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  you  will  be 
liberal  to  the  girl." 

"  I  have  never  laid  past  a  stiver  but  her  share 
was  in  it,"  said  Wilhelm,  seriously;  she  shall 
have  my  all  when  she  marries." 

"  I  always  said  that  you  was  a  good  fellow,  and 
a  liberal  fellow,  and  what  not?"  said  Ritter, 
grasping  Wilhelm's  hand,  and  slapping  him  on 
the  shoulder  with  the  other.  "  Odds  Bobs,  man, 
how  glad  we  shall  be  to  see  thee  in  the  evenings  !" 

"I  shall  keep  at  home  in  the  evenings  as 
hitherto,"  replied  the  knife-grinder,  with  a  merry 
twinkle  in  his  eye ;  "  my  wife  shall  feel  lonely 
without  me  else." 

"  Your  wife  !  "  said  Ritter,  staring  at  Wilhelm  ; 
"  who  is  she  ?  when  is  it  to  be  ?  and  what  not  ?  " 

"  Why,   Lelie   has  her  wedding   garments  to 


WILHELM,    THE   KNIFE-GEINDEK.  223 

"make,  and  what  not  ?  "  said  Wilhelm,  laughing 
outright ;  "  but  whenever  she  says  the  word,  I  am 
ready." 

"  Lelie !  you  !  "  cried  Ritter  in  amazement,  as 
he  looked  at  Wilhelm,  and  then,  strutting  up  and 
down  the  shop,  looked  first  at  his  limbs,  and  then 
at  the  cloth  of  his  doublet.  "  Well,  who  ever 
heard  of  the  like  ?  » 

"  Ay,  ay,  Ritter,  and  so  you  envied  me  of  my 
little  girl,  did  you  ?  "  said  Wilhelm,  smiling ;  "  she 
wouldn't  have  you,  though,  although  you  were 
twice  as  large  and  rich  as  you  are.  I  shall  take 
care  and  give  thee  a  bidding,  however,  to  our 
wedding." 

Wilhelm  and  Lelie  Voss  were  the  father  and 
mother  of  honest  burghers,  and  of  burghers'  lovely 
wives.  Everybody  loved  them  who  knew  them, 
and  their  children  almost  adored  them ;  but  there 
was  a  class  of  children  who  had  reason,  above  all 
others,  to  bless  their  name,  and  to  rejoice  that 
prosperity  had  not  made  them  forget  their  own 
early  days.  The  poor  and  outcast  children  of 
humanity,  who  roamed  the  streets  in  rags,  were 
ever  recognized  by  Wilhelm  as  brethren  in  soul 
and  suffering ;  and  the  little  girls  who  trembled 
on  the  verge  of  youthful  purity  and  irreclaimable 
vice,  were  sisters  to  the  bosom  of  Madame  Lelie. 
Holy,  purifying  suffering !  which,  like  the  crucible 
of  clay  that  is  continent  of  gold,  refines  wThile  it 
burns,  how  many  have  passed  through  thy  ordeal 
preparatory  to  a  mission  of  love  and  benificence  ! 


224  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

Who  so  active  as  Wilhelm  in  founding  the 
Foundling  Hospital  of  Brussels  ?  and  who  so  care- 
ful in  tending  the  school  for  orphans  as  Lelie  ? 
And  Wilhelm  and  Lelie  had  means  and  time,  too, 
to  attend  to  these  things ;  for  he  became  burgo- 
master of  all  the  crafts,  and  rich  to  boot,  and  lived 
at  last  in  the  Park  where  he  once  limped  about, 
a  poor  itinerant  knife-grinder. 


THE  STOEY  OF  HUGH  MILLEK'S 
EAKLY  DAYS. 

HUGH  MILLER  was  born  at  Cromarty,  in  1802. 
His  ancestors  were  a  race  of  adventurous  and 
skillful  sailors,  who  had  coasted  the  Scottish  shores 
as  early  as  the  days  of  Sir  Andrew  Wood  and 
the  bold  Barton.  His  great  grandsire,  one  of  the 
last  of  the  buccaneers  that  sailed  the  Spanish  Main, 
had  invested  a  portion  of  his  surplus  doubloons  in 
the  long,  low  cottage  where  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  first  drew  breath.  To  avoid  the  hereditary 
fate  of  the  family — which,  in  its  male  members, 
had,  during  many  generations,  nearly  all  perished 
at  sea — Hugh  Miller's  grandmother  consigned  his 
father  to  the  care  of  an  aunt  married  to  a  neigh- 
boring farmer.  But  an  agricultural  life  was  not 
his  destiny.  The  boy  was  sent  to  drown  a  litter 
of  puppies ;  his  young  heart  relenting,  he  found 
the  task  impossible,  and  towards  gloaming  wan- 
dered home  to  his  mother  with  the  doomed  qua- 
drupeds tucked  up  in  his  kilt.  "  Mother,"  said  the 
15 


226  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

boy,  in  reply  to  a  maternal  ejaculation  of  surprise, 
"  I  couldna  drown  the  little  doggies,  mother  !  and 
I  brought  them  to  you."  The  youth  who  "couldna 
drown  the  doggies  "  afterwards  did  very  effective 
execution  upon  the  Dutch  off  the  "  Dogger  Bank." 
in  the  memorable  naval  action  of  the  name. 

Retiring  from  the  service  of  his  country — into 
which,  indeed,  he  had  been  pressed  without  his 
consent — the  next  glimpse  we  have  of  Hugh 
Miller's  father,  he  is  master  of  a  craft  that  sails 
from  his  native  Cromarty.  For  a  time  fortune 
smiles  upon  the  hardy  tar ;  but,  while  sunning  him- 
self in  success,  he  was  doomed  to  feel  how  quickly 
adversity  sometimes  follows  upon  the  heels  of  for- 
tune. Early  in  November,  1797,  Miller's  sloop, 
which  for  some  days  had  lain  wind-bound  in  the 
port  of  Peterhead,  left  its  moorings  and  bore  out 
to  sea.  The  breeze  w^hich  had  lured  the  craft 
from  her  haven  speedily  freshened  into  a  gale,  the 
gale  into  a  hurricane,  and  his  bark,  the  Friendship, 
is  next  morning  in  splinters  on  the  bar  of  Findhorn. 
By  the  assistance  of  a  friend,  the  money  required 
to  purchase  a  new  sloop  was  provided,  and  soon  a 
vessel  nearly  equal  to  the  old  is  once  more  the 
property  of  the  sailor. 

Ten  years  pass  away ;  it  is  again  November ;  and 
again  Miller's  sloop — not  now  wind-bound  as  be- 
fore, but  compelled  by  the  gale — seeks  shelter  in 
Peterhead.  The  tempest  seems  abated,  and  on 
the  10th  of  the  ill-fated  month,  Miller  has  left  the 
harbor  of  refuge.  Soon  a  storm  arose,  more  ter- 


STORY  OF  JIUGII  MILLEIi's  EARLY  DAYS.      227 

rible  than  the  storm  in  which  the  Friendship 
went  to  pieces.  All  that  skill  and  seamanship 
could  do  was  done ;  but  the  night  fell  wild  and 
tempestuous,  and  no  vestige  of  the  hapless  sloop 
or  Hi-starred  mariner  was  ever  more  seen.  On  the 
9th  November,  Hugh  Miller's  father's  last  letter 
was  addressed  to  his  family.  It  had  been  received 
in  the  humble  dwelling  at  Peterhead  as  only  the 
letters  of  the  sailor  are  received.  But  the  night 
after  the  reception  of  the  farewell  epistle,  the 
house  door,  which  had  been  left  unfastened,  fell 
open.  Hugh  Miller,  then  just  turned  five  years, 
is  dispatched  to  shut  it.  Of  what  follows,  it  is 
perhaps  well  that  the  man  should  tell  the  recollec- 
tions of  the  boy.  "Day  had  not  wholly  disap- 
peared, but  it  was  fast  posting  into  night.  Within 
less  than  a  yard  of  my  breast,  as  plainly  as  I  ever 
saw  anything,  was  a  dissevered  hand  and  arm 
stretched  towards  me.  Hand  and  arm  were  ap- 
parently those  of  a  female;  they  bore  a  livid 
and  sodden  appearance  ;  and  directly  fronting  me, 
where  the  body  ought  to  have  been,  there  was 
only  blank,  transparent  space,  through  which  I 
could  see  the  dim  forms  of  the  objects  beyond. 
I  was  fearfully  startled,  and  ran  shrieking  to  my 
mother,  telling  her  what  I  had  seen.  I  communi- 
cated the  story,"  continues  Hugh  Miller,  "  as  it  lies 
fixed  in  my  memory,  without  attempting  to  ex- 
plain it ; "  and  we  shall  best  respect  the  memory 
of  the  dead  by  leaving  the  apparition  as  its  nar- 
rator has  left  it,  unexplained.  But  whatever 


228  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

doubt  might  be  entertained  about  the  reality  of 
the  vision,  there  could  be  none  about  the  loss  the 
boy  had  sustained.  Long  after  hope  had  died  in 
every  breast  save  his  own,  was  little  Miller  seen 
looking  wistfully  out  from  the  grassy  protuber- 
ance of  the  old  coast  line  above  his  mother's  house, 
into  the  Moray  Frith,  for  the  sloop  with  the  white 
stripes  and  the  square  top-sails,  but  sloop  nor  sire 
never  came  again.  In  opening  manhood  Hugh 
Miller  embalmed  in  verse  the  record  of  the  catas- 
trophe which  beclouded  "life's  young  day"  with 
this  great  sorrow ;  but  the  boy  of  five  years,  day 
by  day,  and  month  after  month,  mounting  that 
grassy  knoll,  intent  only  on  discovering,  amid 
"  the  yeast  of  waves,"  the  bark  which  has  borne 
his  father  from  him  never  to  return,  is  a  nobler 
poem  than  any  "a  journeyman  stone-mason" 
wrote. 

The  death  of  a  father  so  keenly  mourned,  was 
in  some  measure  compensated  by  his  two  maternal 
imcles — types  of  a  class  of  men  that,  from  age  to 
age,  have  been  the  glory  of  the  peasantry  of  Scot- 
land. In  his  "  Schools  and  Schoolmasters,"  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  has  paid  a  generous  and 
affecting  tribute  to  this  pair  of  noble  brothers. 
Uncle  James  was  a  harness-maker — and  wrought 
for  the  farmers  of  an  extensive  district  of  country 
• — a  keen  local  antiquary,  and  possessed  of  an  as- 
tonishing store  of  traditionary  lore.  Ever  just  in 
his  own  dealings,  he  regarded  every  species  of 
meanii'jss  with  thorough  contempt.  Uncle  Alex- 


STORY  OF  HUGH  MILLER'S  EAKLY  DAYS.      2159 

ancler  was  characterized  by  the  same  strict  integ- 
rity, though  of  a  somewhat  different  cast  from  his 
brother,  both  in  intellect  and  temperament.  An 
old  sailor,  he  had  served  under  Duncan  at  Cam- 
perdown,  taken  part  in  the  campaign  under  Aber- 
crombie  in  Egypt,  and  by  his  descriptions  of  foreign 
plants  and  animals,  had  kindled  in  his  nephew  his 
own  special  tastes.  Uncle  Sandy,  in  point  of  fact, 
was  Hugh  Miller's  professor  of  natural  history. 
Before  his  father's  death,  young  Miller  had  been 
sent  to  a  "  dame  school,"  and,  under  the  tuition  of 
an  old  lady,  he  got  through  the  Shorter  Catechism, 
the  Proverbs,  the  New  Testament,  and  at  length 
entered  the  Bible  class.  At  first  his  tasks  proved 
irksome  hi  the  extreme ;  but  so  soon  as  Hugh 
Miller  discovered  that  in  the  art  of  reading  con- 
sisted the  art  of  finding  stories  in  books,  all  the 
drudgery  was  over.  After  this  discovery,  his  pro- 
gress, which  had  hitherto  been  nothing  extraordi- 
nary, accelerated  in  something  like  a  geometric 
ratio.  The  stories  of  Joseph,  of  Samson,  of  David, 
of  Goliath,  of  Elijah  and  Elisha,  were  all  speedily 
mastered.  From  these  Hebrew  worthies,  he  turned 
to  the  classical  romances  of  childhood — "  Jack  the 
Giant  Killer,"  "Jack  and  the  Bean  Stalk,"  "Blue 
Beard,"  "  Sinbad  the  Sailor,"  "  Beauty  and  the 
Beast,"  "Aladdin,  or  the  Wonderful  Lamp." 
From  these  he  passed,  without  any  conscious  line 
of  division,  to  the  "  Odyssey "  of  old  Homer, 
and  from  the  "Odyssey"  turned  to  that  mar- 
velous production  of  the  Tinker  of  Elstow, — the 


230  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

"  Pilgrim's  Progress."  Subsequently,  "  Howie's 
Scots  Worthies,"  "Napthali,  or  the  Hind  let 
Loose,"  "  The  Cloud  of  Witnesses,"  &c.,  were 
made  his  own.  About  this  time,  also,  it  was  that 
Hugh  Miller's  "  Uncle  James  "  put  into  his  hands 
"  Blind  Harry's  Wallace."  When  the  boy  had 
read  how  Wallace  killed  young  Selbie  the  con- 
stable's son,  how  Wallace  had  fished  the  Irvine 
water,  and  how  Wallace  killed  the  churl  with  his 
own  staff  in  Ayr,  his  uncle  with  a  dash  of  the  dry 
humor  that  makes  a  joke  effective,  said  to  him,  as 
the  book  seemed  a  rather  rough  sort  of  production, 
he  need  read  no  more  of  it  unless  he  liked.  But 
young  Miller  rather  did  like  to  read  of  Wallace. 
The  fiery  narrative  of  the  blind  bard  intoxicated 
his  young  heart;  all  he  had  previously  read  or 
heard  of  battles  seemed  tame  in  comparison  with 
the  deeds  of  Scotland's  hero  guardian. 

After  some  twelve  months'  instruction  in  the 
dame  school,  young  Miller  was  transferred  to  the 
grammar  school  of  Cromarty.  Its  master  was  a 
good  scholar,  but  by  no  means  an  energetic  in- 
structor. If  a  boy  wished  to  learn  he  could  teach 
him,  but  if  a  boy  wished  to  do  nothing,  he  was  not 
required  to  do  more  than  he  wished.  Meeting- 
one  day  with  Uncle  James,  he  urged  the  harness- 
maker  to  put  his  nephew  into  Latin.  The  recom- 
mendation of  the  master  possessing  a  sort  of  pre- 
established  harmony  with  the  ideas  of  the  uncle, 
Hugh  Miller  was  transferred  from  the  English  to 
the  Latin  form.  In  the  Latin  class,  however,  ho 


STORY  OF  HUGH  MILLER5  S  EARLY  DAYS.      231 

appears  to  have  forgotten  his  axiom  about  the  art 
of  reading.  "The  Rudiments"  was  to  him  by  far 
the  dullest  book  he  ever  read,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  began  miserably  to  flag,  and  to  long  for 
his  English  reading,  with  its  picture-like  descrip- 
tions and  its  amusing  stories. 

A  few  of  the  wealthier  inhabitants  of  Cromarty, 
irritated  with  the  small  progress  of  their  sons  under 
the  care  of  the  parish  teacher,  got  up  a  subscrip- 
tion school,  to  which  they  transferred  their  chil- 
dren. Uncle  James,  sharing  the  general  impatience, 
sent  his  protege  thither  likewise.  The  teacher  of  , 
the  subscription  school  was  rather  a  clever  young 
man,  considerably  smarter  than  the  parish  dominie, 
to  whom  the  pleasures  of  sitting  still  seemed  supe- 
rior to  all  other  pleasures.  But  unfortunately  the 
master  of  the  new  academy  soon  proved  quite  as 
unsteady  as  he  was  clever.  Having  got  rid  of 
him,  a  licentiate  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  was 
procured.  For  a  time  this  second  teacher  prom- 
ised well,  but,  getting  immersed  in  a  special 
theological  controversy,  he  ultimately  resigned  his 
charge.  A  third  teacher  was  got,  but  unluckily 
he  also  soon  gave  up  in  despair.  Young  Miller's 
opportunities  for  exploring  Cromarty  and  its  en- 
virons were,  in  consequence  of  these  mishaps, 
quite  as  great  as  ever.  His  recollections  of  excur- 
sions made  into  the  interior  at  this  early  period, 
partially  lift  the  veil  which  now,  during  fifty  years 
has  been  falling  over  the  antique  customs  of  nor- 
thern society. 


MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

"  The  Cromarty  Sutors  have  their  two  lines  of 
caves — an  ancient  line,  hollowed  by  the  waves 
many  centuries  ago,  when  the  sea  stood,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  land,  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  higher 
along  our  shores  than  it  does  now ;  and  a  modern 
line,  which  the  surf  is  still  engaged  in  scooping 
out.  Many  of  the  older  caves  are  lined  with  sta- 
lactites, deposited  by  springs  that,  filtering  through 
the  cracks  and  fissures  of  the  gneiss,  find  lime 
enough  in  their  passage  to  acquire  what  is  known  as 
a  petrifying,  though,  in  reality,  only  an  incrusting 
quality.  And  these  stalactites,  under  the  name 
of  '  white  stones  made  by  the  water,'  formed  of 
old — as  in  that  Cave  of  Slains  specially  mentioned 
by  Buchanan  and  the  Chroniclers,  and  in  those 
caverns  of  the  Peak  so  quaintly  described  by  Cot- 
ton— one  of  the  grand  marvels  of  the  place.  Al- 
most all  the  old  gazetteers  sufficiently  copious  in 
their  details  to  mention  Cromarty  at  all,  refer  to 
its  '  Dropping  Cave '  as  a  marvelous  marvel-pro- 
ducing cavern  ;  and  this  '  Dropping  Cave '  is  but 
one  of  many  that  look  out  upon  the  sea  from  the 
precipices  of  the  Southern  Sutor,  in  whose  dark 
recesses  the  drops  ever  tinkle,  and  the  stony  ceil- 
ings ever  grow.  The  wonder  could  not  have  been 
deemed  a  great  or  veiy  rare  one  by  a  man  like  the 
late  Sir  George  Mackenzie  of  Coul,  well  known 
from  his  travels  in  Iceland,  and  his  experiments 
on  the  inflammability  of  the  diamond ;  but  it  so 
happened,  that  Sir  George,  curious  to  see  the  sort 
of  stones  to  which  the  old  gazetteers  referred,  made 


STOKY  OF  HUGH  MlLLEu's  EARLY  DAYS.      233 

application  to  the  minister  of  the  parish  for  a  set  of 
specimens ;  and  the  minister  straightway  deputed  the 
commission,  which  he  believed  to  be  not  a  difficult 
one,  to  one  of  his  poorer  parishioners,  an  old  nailer, 
as  a  means  of  putting  a  few  shillings  in  his  way. 

"  It  so  happened,  however,  that  the  nailer  had 
lost  his  wife  by  a  sad  accident,  only  a  few  weeks 
before  ;  and  the  story  went  abroad  that  the  poor 
woman  was,  as  the  townspeople  expressed  it, '  com- 
ing back.'  She  had  been  very  suddenly  hurried  out 
of  the  world.  When  going  down  the  quay,  after 
nightfall  one  evening,  with  a  parcel  of  clean  linen 
for  a  sailor,  her  relative,  she  had  missed  footing  on 
the  pier-edge,  and,  half-brained,  half-drowned,  had 
been  found  in  the  morning,  stone  dead,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  harbor.  And  now,  as  if  pressed 
by  some  unsettled  business,  she  used  to  be  seen,  it 
was  said,  hovering  after  nightfall  about  her  old 
dwelling,  or  sauntering  along  the  neighboring 
street ;  nay,  there  were  occasions,  according  to  the 
general  report,  in  which  she  had  even  exchanged 
words  with  some  of  her  neighbors,  little  to  their 
satisfaction.  The  words,  however,  seemed  in  every 
instance  to  have  wonderfully  little  to  do  with  the 
affairs  of  another  world.  I  remember  seeing  the 
wife  of  a  neighbor  rush  into  my  mother's  one 
evening,  about  this  time,  speechless  with  terror,  and 
declare,  after  an  awful  pause,  during  which  she 
had  lain  half-fainting  in  a  chair,  that  she  had  just 
eeen  Christy.  She  had  been  engaged,  as  the 
night  was  falling,  but  ere  darkness  had  quite  set 


234:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEK. 

in,  in  piling  up  a  load  of  brushwood  for  fuel  out- 
side her  door,  when  up  started  the  spectre  on  the 
other  side  of  the  heap,  attired  in  the  ordinary  work- 
day garb  of  the  deceased,  and,  in  a  light  and  hur- 
ried tone,  asked,  as  Christy  might  have  done  ere 
the  fatal  accident,  for  a  share  of  the  brushwood. 
'  Give  me  some  of  that  hagf  said  the  ghost ;  'you 
have  plenty — I  have  none.'  It  was  not  known 
whether  or  no  the  nailer  had  seen  the  apparition, 
but  it  was  pretty  certain  he  believed  in  it ;  and  as 
the  '  Dropping  Cave J  is  both  dark  and  solitary, 
and  had  forty  years  ago  a  bad  name  to  boot — for 
the  mermaid  had  been  observed  disporting  in  front 
of  it  even  at  mid-day,  and  lights  seen  and  screams 
heard  from  it  at  nights — it  must  have  been  a 
rather  formidable  place  to  a  man  living  in  the  mo- 
mentary expectation  of  a  visit  from  a  dead  wife. 
So  far  as  could  be  ascertained — for  the  nailer  him- 
self was  rather  close  in  the  matter — he  had  not 
entered  the  cave  at  all.  He  seemed,  judging  from 
the  marks  of  scraping  left  along  the  sides  for  about 
two  or  three  feet  from  the  narrow  opening,  to  have 
taken  his  stand  outside,  where  the  light  was  good, 
and  the  way  of  retreat  clear,  and  to  have  raked 
outwards  to  him,  as  far  as  he  could  reach,  all  that 
stuck  to  the  walls,  including  ropy  slime  and  mouldy 
damp,  but  not  one  particle  of  stalactite.  It  was, 
of  course,  seen  that  his  specimens  would  not  suit 
Sir  George  ;  and  the  minister,  in  the  extremity  of 
the  case,  applied  to  my  uncles,  though  with  some 
little  unwillingness,  as  it  was  known  that  no  remu- 


235 

neration  for  their  trouble  could  be  offered  to  them. 
My  uncles  were,  however,  delighted  with  the  com- 
mission— it  was  all  for  the  benefit  of  science ;  and, 
providing  themselves  with  torches  and  a  hammer, 
they  set  out  for  the  caves.  And  I,  of  course,  ac- 
companied them — a  very  happy  boy,  armed,  like 
themselves,  with  hammer  and  torch,  and  prepared 
devotedly  to  labor  in  behalf  of  science  and  Sir 
George. 

"  I  had  never  before  seen  the  caves  by  torch-light ; 
and  though  what  I  now  witnessed  did  not  quite 
come  up  to  what  I  had  read  regarding  the  Grotto 
of  Antiparos,  or  even.the  wonders  of  the  Peak,  it 
was  unquestionably  both  strange  and  fine.  The 
celebrated  Dropping  Cave  proved  inferior — as  is 
not  unfrequently  the  case  with  the  celebrated — to 
a  cave  almost  entirely  unknown,  which  opened 
among  the  rocks  a  little  further  to  the  east ;  and 
yet  even  it  had  its  interest.  It  widened,  as  one 
entered,  into  a  twilight  chamber,  green  with  velvety 
mosses,  that  love  the  damp  and  the  shade ;  and 
terminated  in  a  range  of  crystalline  wells,  fed  by 
the  perpetual  dropping,  and  hollowed  in  what 
seemed  an  altar-piece  of  the  deposited  marble. 
And  above  and  along  the  sides  there  depended 
many  a  draped  fold,  and  hung  many  a  translucent 
icicle.  The  other  cave,  however,  we  found  to  be 
of  much  greater  extent,  and  of  more  varied  char- 
acter. It  is  one  of  three  caves  of  the  old  coast- 
line, known  as  the  Dovecot  or  Pigeon  Caves,  which 
open  upon  a  piece  of  rocky  beach,  overhung  by  a 


236  MEN    WHO    HAVE 

rudely  semicircular  range  of  gloomy  precipices, 
the  points  of  the  semicircle  project  on  either  side 
into  deep  water — into  at  least  water  so  much 
deeper  than  the  fall  of  ordinary  neaps,  that  it  is 
only  during  the  ebb  of  stream  tides  that  the  place 
is  accessible  by  land ;  and  in  each  of  these  bold 
promontories — the  terminal  horns  of  the  crescent 
— there  is  a  cave  of  the  present  coast-line,  deeply 
hollowed,  in  which  the  sea  stands  from  ten  to 
twelve  feet  in  depth  when  the  tide  is  at  full,  and 
in  which  the  surf  thunders,  when  gales  blow  hard 
from  the  stormy  north-east,  with  the  roar  of  whole 
parks  of  artillery.  The  cav£  in  the  western  prom- 
ontory, which  bears  among  the  townsfolk  the 
name  of  the  '  Puir  Wife's  Meal  Kist,'  has  its  roof 
drilled  by  two  small  perforations,  the  largest  of 
them  not  a  great  deal  wider  than  the  blow-hole  of 
a  porpoise,  that  open  externally  among  the  cliffs 
above ;  and  when,  during  storms  from  the  sea,  the 
huge  waves  come  rolling  ashore  like  green  moving 
walls,  there  are  certain  times  of  the  tide  in  which 
they  shut  up  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  and  so  com- 
press the  air  within,  that  it  rushes  up  wards  through 
the  openings,  roaring  in  its  escape  as  if  ten  whales 
were  blowing  at  once,  and  rises  from  amid  the 
crags  overhead  in  two  white  jets  of  vapor,  dis- 
tinctly visible  to  the  height  of  from  sixty  to  eighty 
feet.  If  there  be  critics  who  have  deemed  it  one 
of  the  extravagances  of  Goethe  that  he  should 
have  given  life  and  motion,  as  in  his  famous  witch- 
scene  in  'Faust,'  to  the  Hartz  crags,  they  would 


STORY  OF  HUGH  MILLERS  EAKLY  DAYS.     237 

do  well  to  visit  this  bold  headland  during  some 
winter  tempest  from  the  east,  and  find  his  descrip- 
tion perfectly  sober  and  true  : 

" '  See  the  giant  crags,  oh  ho ! 

How  they  snort  and  how  they  blow.1 

"Within,  at  the  bottom  of  the  crescent,  and 
where  the  tide  never  reaches  when  at  the  fullest, 
we  found  the  large  pigeon  cave,  which  we  had 
come  to  explore,  hollowed  for  about  a  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  in  the  line  of  a  fault.  There  runs  across 
the  opening  the  broken  remains  of  a  wall  erected 
by  some  monopolizing  proprietor  of  the  neighbor- 
ing lands,  with  the  intention  of  appropriating  to 
himself  the  pigeons  of  the  cavern ;  but  his  day 
had,  even  at  this  time,  been  long  gone  by,  and  the 
wall  had  sunk  into  a  ruin.  As  we  advanced,  the 
cave  caught  the  echoes  of  our  footsteps,  and  a  flock 
of  pigeons,  startled  from  their  nests,  came  whiz- 
zing out,  almost  brushing  us  with  their  wings. 
The  damp  floor  sounded  hollow  to  the  tread ;  we 
saw  the  green  mossy  sides,  which  close  in  the  un- 
certain light,  more  than  twenty  feet  overhead, 
furrowed  by  ridges  of  stalactites,  that  became 
whiter  and  purer  as  they  retired  from  the  vege- 
tative influences ;  and  marked  that  the  last  plant 
which  appeared,  as  we  wended  our  way  inwards, 
was  a  minute  green  moss,  about  half  an  inch  in 
length,  which  slanted  outwards  on  the  prominences 
of  the  sides,  and  overlay  myriads  of  similar  sprigs 
of  moss,  long  before  converted  into  stone,  but 
which,  faithful  in  death  to  the  ruling  law  of  their 


238  MEK   WHO   HAVE   KISEtf. 

lives,  still  pointed,  like  the  others,  to  the  free  ah* 
and  the  light.  And  then,  in  the  deeper  recesses 
of  the  cave,  where  the  floor  becomes  covered  with 
uneven  sheets  of  stalagmite,  and  where  long  spear- 
like  icicles  and  drapery-like  foldings,  pure  as  the 
marble  of  the  sculptor  descend  from  above  or 
hang  pendent  over  the  sides,  we  found  in  abun- 
dance magnificent  specimens  for  Sir  George.  The 
entire  expedition  was  one  of  wondrous  interest;  and 
I  returned  next  day  to  school,  big  with  description 
and  narrative,  to  excite,  by  truths  more  marvel- 
ous than  fiction,  the  curiosity  of  my  class-fellows. 
"  I  had  previously  introduced  them  to  the  marvels 
of  the  hill ;  and  during  our  Saturday  half-holidays, 
some  of  them  had  accompanied  me  in  my  excur- 
sions to  it.  But  it  had  failed,  somehow,  to  catch 
their  fancy.  It  was  too  solitary,  and  too  far  from 
home,  and,  as  a  scene  of  amusement,  not  at  all 
equal  to  the  town-links,  where  they  could  play  at 
'  shinty,'  and  '  French  and  English,'  almost  within 
hail  of  their  parents'  homesteads.  The  very  tract 
along  its  flat,  moory  summit,  over  which,  accord- 
in  <r  to  tradition,  Wallace  had  once  driven  before 

O  ' 

him,  in  headlong  route,  a  strong  body  of  English, 
and  which  was  actually  mottled  with  sepulchral 
tumuli,  still  visible  amid  the  heath,  failed  in  any 
marked  degree  to  engage  them ;  and  though  they 
liked  well  enough  to  hear  about  the  caves,  they 
seemed  to  have  no  very  great  desire  to  see  them. 
There  was,  however,  one  little  fellow,  who  sat  at 
the  Latin  form — the  member  of  a  class  lower  and 


STORY  OF  HUGH  MILLER'S  EARLY  DAYS.      239 

brighter  than  the  heavy  one,  though  it  was  not 
particularly  bright  neither — who  differed  in  this 
respect  from  all  the  others.  Though  he  was  my 
junior  by  about  a  twelvemonth,  and  shorter  by 
about  half  a  head,  he  was  a  diligent  boy  in  even 
the  Grammar  School,  in  which  boys  were  so  rarely 
diligent,  and,  for  his  years,  a  thoroughly  sensible 
one,  without  a  grain  of  the  dreamer  in  his  com- 
position. I  succeeded,  however,  notwithstanding 
his  sobriety,  in  infecting  him  thoroughly  with  my 
peculiar  tastes,  and  learned  to  love  him  very  much, 
partly  because  he  doubled  my  amusements  by 
sharing  in  them,  and  partly,  I  daresay,  on  the 
principle  on  which  Mahomet  preferred  his  old  wife 
to  his  young  one,  because  'he  Irelieved  in  me.' 
Devoted  to  him  as  Caliban  in  the  c  Tempest  >  to  his 
friend  Trinculo, 

"  'I  showed  him  the  best  springs,  I  plucked  him  berries, 
And  I  with  my  long  nails  did  dig  him  pig-nuts.' 

"  His  curiosity  on  this  occasion  was  largely  excited 
by  my  description  of  the  Doocot  Cave  ;  and,  set- 
ting out  one  morning  to  explore  its  wonders,  armed 
with  John  Feddes's  hammer,  in  the  benefits  of 
which  my  fiend  was  permitted  liberally  to  share, 
w.e  failed,  for  that  day  at  least,  in  finding  our  way 
back. 

"  It  was  on  a  pleasant  spring  morning  that,  with 
my  little  curious  friend  beside  me,  I  stood  on  the 
beach  opposite  the  eastern  promontory,  that,  with 
its  stern,  granitic  wall,  bars  access  for  ten  days  out 


240  MEN    WHO    HAVE    EISEN. 

of  every  fourteen  to  the  wonders  of  the  Doocot ; 
and  saw  it  stretching  provokingly  out  into  the 
green  water.  It  was  hard  to  be  disappointed  and 
the  caves  so  near.  The  tide  was  a  low  neap,  and 
if  we  wanted  a  passage  dry-shod,  it  behoved  us  to 
wait  for  at  least  a  week ;  but  neither  of  us  under- 
stood the  philosophy  of  neap  tides  at  the  period. 
I  was  quite  sure  I  had  got  round  at  low  water, 
with  my  uncles,  not  a  great  many  days  before, 
and  we  both  inferred,  that  if  we  but  succeeded  in 
getting  round  now,  it  would  be  quite  a  pleasure 
to  wait  among  the  caves  inside  until  such  time  as 
the  fall  of  the  tide  should  lay  bare  a  passage  for 
our  return.  A  narrow  and  broken  shelf  runs  along 
the  promontory  on  which,  by  the  assistance  of  the 
naked  toe  and  the  toe-nail,  it  is  just  possible  to 
creep.  We  succeeded  in  scrambling  up  to  it ;  and 
then,  crawling  outwards  on  all-fours — the  preci- 
pice, as  we  proceeded,  beetling  more  and  more 
formidable  from  above,  and  the  water  becoming 
greener  and  deeper  below — we  reached  the  outer 
point  of  the  promontory ;  and  then  doubling  the 
cape  on  a  still  narrowing  margin — the  water,  by 
a  reverse  process,  becoming  shallower  and  less 
green  as  we  advanced  inwards — we  found  the 
ledge  terminating  just  where,  after  clearing  the 
sea,  it  overhung  the  gravelly  beach  at  an  elevation 
of  nearly  ten  feet.  Adown  we  both  dropped, 
proud  of  our  success ;  up  splashed  the  rattling 
gravel  as  we  fell ;  and  for  at  least  the  whole  com- 
ing week — though  we  were  unaware  of  the  extent 


STORY  OF  HUGH  MILLER'S  EARLY  DAYS.      241 

of  our  good  luck  at  the  time — the  marvels  of  the 
Doocot  Cave  might  be  regarded  as  solely  and  ex- 
clusively our  own.  For  one  short  seven  days — to 
borrow  emphasis  from  the  phraseology  of  Carlyle — 
4  they  were  our  own,  and  no  other  man's.' 

"  The  first  few  hours  were  hours  of  sheer  enjoy- 
ment.    The  larger  cave  proved  a  mine  of  marvels; 
and  we  found  a  great  deal  additional  to  wonder  at 
on  the  slopes  beneath  the  precipices,  and  along 
the  piece  of  rocky  sea-beach  in  front.     We  suc- 
ceeded in  discovering  for  ourselves,  in  creeping, 
dwarf  bushes,  that  told  of  the  blighting  influence 
t  of   the    sea- spray;  the   pale   yellow   honey-suckle 
that  we  had  never  seen  before,  save  in  gardens 
and  shrubberies;    and  on  a  deeply-shaded  slope 
that  leaned  against  one  of  the  steeper  precipices, 
we  detected  the  sweet-scented  woodroof  of  the 
flower-pot  and  parterre,  with  its  pretty  verticillate 
leaves  that  become  the  more  odoriferous  the  more 
they  are   crushed,  and  its  white  delicate  flowers. 
There,    too,  immediately   in    the  opening  of  the 
deeper  cave,  Avhere  a  small  stream  came  pattering 
in  detached  drops  from  the  over-beetling  precipice 
above,  like   the   first  drops  of  a  heavy   thunder- 
shower,  we   found  the   hot,  bitter    scurvy  grass, 
with  its  minute  cruciform  flowers,  which  the  great 
Captain  Cook  had  used  in  his  voyages ;  above  all, 
there  were  the  caves  with  their  pigeons — white, 
variegated,  and  blue — and  their  mysterious  and 
gloomy    depths,  in  which   plants    hardened   into 
stone,  and  water  became  marble.     In  a  short  time 


242  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

we  had  broken  off  with  our  hammer  whole  pocket- 
fuls  of  stalactites  and  petrified  moss.     There  were 
little  pools  at  the  side  of  the  cave,  where  we  could 
see  the  work  of  congelation  going  on,  as  at  the 
commencement  of  an  October  frost,  when  the  cold 
north  wind  ruffles,  and  but  barely  ruffles,  the  sur- 
face of  some  mountain  lochan  or  sluggish  moorland 
stream,  and    shows   the  newly-formed  needles  ot 
ice  projecting  mole-like  from  the  shores  into  the 
water.      So  rapid  was   the  course  of  deposition, 
that  there  were  cases  in  which  the  sides  of  the 
hollows  seemed   growing  almost  in  proportion  as 
the  water  rose  in  them ;  the  springs,  lipping  over, 
deposited  their  minute  crystals  on  the  edges;  and 
the  reservoirs  deepened  and  became  more  capaci- 
ous as  their  mounds  were  built  up  by  this  curious 
masonry.     The    long  telescopic  prospect    of    the 
sparkling  sea,  as  viewed  from  the  inner  extremity 
of  the  cavern,  while  all   around  was  dark  as  mid. 
night — the  sudden  gleam  of  the  sea-gull,  seen  for 
a  moment  from  the  recess,  as  it  flitted  past  in  the 
sunshine — the  black  heaving  bulk  of  the  grampus, 
I  as  it  threw  up  its  slender  jets  of  spray,  and  then, 
turning  downwards,  displayed  its  glossy  back  and 
vast  angular  fin — even  the  pigeons,  as  they  shot 
whizzing    by,  one   moment  scarce  visible    in  the 
gloom,  the  next,  radiant  in  the  light — all  acquired 
a  new  interest,  from  the  peculiarity  of  the  setting 
in  which  we   saw  them.     They  formed  a  series  ot 
sun-gilt  vignettes,  framed  in  jet ;  and  it  was  long 
ere  we  tired  of  seeing  and  admiring  in  them  much 


YOUNG    HUGH    MILLKIt    IS    THE    CAVE. 

"  There  was  n  vessel  crossing  (he  wake  of  the  moon  nt  the  time,  scarce  half  n  mile  from  tbe 
shore  ;  mid,  assisted  by  my  companion,  1  began  to  about  lit  the  top  of  my  lungs,  in  the  hope  ot  being 
beard  t.y  ihe  Bailors."—  PACK  -J43. 


STORY   OP   HUGH   MILLEK^S   EARLY   DAYS.    24:3 

of  the  strange  and  the  beautiful.  It  did  seem 
rather  ominous,  however,  and  perhaps  somewhat 
supernatural  to  boot,  that  about  an  hour  after 
noon,  the  tide,  while  there  was  yet  a  full  fathom 
of  water  beneath  the  brow  of  the  promontory, 
ceased  to  fall,  and  then,  after  a  quarter  of  an 
hour's  space,  began  actually  to  creep  upwards  on 
the  beach.  But  just  hoping  that  there  might  be 
some  mistake  in  the  matter,  which  the  evening 
tide  would  scarce  fail  to  rectify,  we  continued  to 
amuse  ourselves,  and  to  hope  on.  Hour  after 
hour  passed,  lengthening  as  the  shadows  length- 
ened, and  yet  the  tide  still  rose.  The  sun  had 
sunk  behind  the  precipices,  and  all  was  gloom 
along  their  bases,  and  double  gloom  in  their  caves ; 
but  their  rugged  brows  still  caught  the  red  glare 
of  evening.  The  flush  rose  higher  and  higher, 
chased  by  the  shadows ;  and  then,  after  lingering 
for  a  moment  on  their  crests  of  honey-suckle  and 
juniper,  passed  away,  and  the  whole  became  som- 
bre and  gray.  The  sea-gull  sprang  upwards  from 
where  he  had  floated  on  the  ripple,  and  hied  him 
slowely  away  to  his  lodge  in  his  deep-sea  stack ; 
the  dusky  cormorant  flitted  past,  with  heavier  and 
more  frequent  stroke,  to  his  whitened  shelf  high 
on  the  precipice;  the  pigeons  came  whizzing 
downwards  from  the  uplands  and  the  opposite 
land,  and  disappeared  amid  the  gloom  of  their 
caves;  every  creature  that  had  wings  made  use 
of  them  in  speeding  homewards ;  but  neither  my 
companion  nor  myself  had  any ;  and  there  was  no 


MEX    WHO    HAVE    KIS£N. 

possibility  of  getting  home  without  them.  We 
made  desperate  efforts  to  scale  the  precipices,  and 
on  two  several  occasions  succeeded  in  reaching 
mid-way  shelves  among  the  crags,  where  the 
sparrovvhawk  and  the  raven  build  ;  but  though  we 
had  climbed  well  enough  to  render  our  return  a 
matter  of  bare  possibility,  there  was  no  possibility 
whatever  of  getting  further  up:  the  cliffs  had 
never  been  scaled  before,  and  they  were  not  des- 
tined to  be  scaled  now.  And  so,  as  the  twilight 
deepened,  and  the  precarious  footing  became  every 
moment  more  doubtful  and  precarious  still,  we 
had  just  to  give  up  in  despair.  'Wouldn't  care 
for  myself,'  said  the  poor  little  fellow,  my  compan- 
ion, bursting  into  tears,  '  if  it  were  not  for  my 
mother ;  but  what  will  my  mother  say  ? ' 
c  Wouldn't  care  neither,'  said  I,  with  a  heavy  heart ; 
'but  it's  just  back  water,  we'll  get  out  at  twall.' 
We  retreated  together  into  one  of  the  shallower 
and  drier  caves,  and,  clearing  a  little  spot  of  its 
rough  stones,  and  then  groping  along  the  rocks 
for  the  dry  grass  that  in  the  spring  season  hangs 
from  them  in  withered  tufts,  we  formed  for  our- 
salves  a  most  uncomfortable  bed,  and  lay  down  in 
one  another's  arms.  For  the  last  few  hours  moun- 
tainous piles  of  clouds  had  been  rising  dark  and 
stormy  in  the  sea-mouth :  they  had  flared  porten- 
tously in  the  setting  sun,  and  had  worn,  with  the 
decline  of  evening,  almost  every  meteoric  tint  of 
anger,  from  fiery  red  to  a  sombre  thundrous  brown, 
and  from  sombre  brown  to  doleful  black.  And 


Y  OF  HUGH  MILLER'S  EARLY  DAYS.  245 

we  could  now  at  least  hear  what  they  portended, 
though  we  could  no  longer  see.  The  rising  wind 
began  to  howl  mournfully  amid  the  cliffs,  and  the 
sea,  hitherto  so  silent,  to  beat  heavily  against  the 
shore,  and  to  boom,  like  distress-guns,  from  the 
recesses  of  the  two  deep-sea  caves.  We  could 
hear,  too,  the  beating  rain,  now  heavier,  now 
lighter,  as  the  gusts  swelled  or  sank ;  and  the  in- 
termittent patter  of  the  streamlet  over  the  deeper 
cave,  now  driving  against  the  precipices,  now  de- 
scending heavily  on  the  stones. 

"  My  companion  had  only  the  real  evils  of  the 
case  to  deal  with,  and  so,  the  hardness  of  our  bed 
and  the  coldness  of  the  night  considered,  he  slept 
tolerably  well ;  but  I  was  unlucky  enough  to  have 
evils  greatly  worse  than  the  real  ones  to  annoy  me. 
The  corpse  of  a  drowned  seaman  had  been  found 
on  the  beach  about  a  month  previous,  some  forty 
yards  from  where  we  lay.  The  hands  and  feet, 
miserably  contracted  and  corrugated  into  deep 
folds  at  every  joint,  yet  swollen  to  twice  their 
proper  size,  had  been  bleached  as  white  as  pieces 
of  alumed  sheep-skin  ;  and  where  the  head  should 
have  been,  there  existed  only  a  sad  mass  of  rub- 
bish. I  had  examined  the  body,  as  young  people 
are  apt  to  do,  a  great  deal  too  curiously  for  my 
peace ;  and,  though  I  had  never  done  the  poor 
nameless  seaman  any  harm,  I  could  not  have  suf- 
fered more  from  him  during  that  melancholy  night 
had  I  been  his  murderer.  Sleeping  or  waking,  he 
was  continually  before  me.  Every  tune  I  dropped 


24:6  MEN   WHO   HAVE    EISEN. 

into  a  doze,  he  would  come  stalking  up  the  beach 
from  the  spot  where  he  had  lain,  with  his  stiff 
white  fingers,  that  stuck  out  like  eagles'  toes,  and 
his  pale  broken  pulp  of  a  head,  and  attempt  strik- 
ing me ;  and  then  I  would  awaken  with  a  start, 
cling  to  my  companion,  and  remember  that  the 
drowned  sailor  had  lain  festering  among  the  iden- 
tical bunches  of  sea- weed  that  still  rotted  on  the 
beach  not  a  stone-cast  away.  The  near  neighbor- 
hood of  a  score  of  living  bandits  would  have 
inspired  less  horror  than  the  recollection  of  that 
one  dead  seaman. 

"Towards  midnight  the  sky  cleared  and  the 
wind  fell,  and  the  moon,  in  her  last  quarter,  rose 
red  as  a  mass  of  heated  iron  out  of  the  sea.  We 
crept  down,  in  the  uncertain  light,  over  the  rough 
slippery  crags,  to  ascertain  whether  the  tide  had 
not  fallen  sufficiently  far  to  yield  us  a  passage ; 
but  we  found  the  waves  chafing  among  the  rocks 
just  where  the  tide-line  had  rested  twelve  hours 
before,  and  a  full  fathom  of  sea  enclasping  the 
base  of  the  promontory.  A  glimmering  idea  of 
the  real  nature  of  our  situation  at  length  crossed 
my  mind.  It  was  not  imprisonment  for  a  tide  to 
which  we  had  consigned  ourselves ;  it  was  impris- 
onment for  a  week.  There  was  little  comfort  in 
the  thought,  arising,  as  it  did,  amid  the  chills  and 
terrors  of  a  dreary  midnight ;  and  I  looked  wist- 
fully on  the  sea  as  our  only  path  of  escape.  There 
was  a  vessel  crossing  the  wake  of  the  moon  at  the 
time,  scarce  half  a  mile  from  the  shore ;  and,  as- 


STOJIY    OF   HUGH    MILLEfi's    EARLY   DAYS.    24:7 

sistcd  by  my  companion,  I  began  to  shout  at  the 
top  of  my  lungs,  in  the  hope  of  being  heard  by 
the  sailors.  We  saw  her  dim  bulk  falling  slowly 
at  1 1 wart  the  red  glittering  belt  of  light  that  had 
rendered  her  visible,  and  then  disappearing  in  the 
murky  blackness  ;  and  just  as  we  lost  sight  of  her 
forever,  we  could  hear  an  indistinct  sound  mingling 
with  the  dash  of  the  waves — the  shout,  in  reply, 
of  the  startled  helmsmen.  The  vessel,  as  we 
afterwards,  learned,  was  a  large  stone-lighter, 
deeply  laden,  and  unfurnished  with  a  boat ;  nor 
were  her  crew  at  all  sure  that  it  would  have  been 
safe  to  attend  to  the  midnight  voice  from  amid 
the  rocks,  even  had  they  the  means  of  communi- 
cation with  the  shore.  We  waited  on  and  on, 
however,  now  shouting  by  turns,  and  now  shout- 
ing together ;  but  there  was  no  second  reply ;  and 
at  length,  losing  hope,  we  groped  our  way  back 
to  our  comfortless  bed,  just  as  the  tide  had  again 
turned  on  the  beach,  and  the  waves  began  to  roll 
upwards  higher  and  higher  at  every  dash. 

"  As  the  moon  rose  and  brightened,  the  dead 
seaman  became  less  troublesome ;  and  I  had  suc- 
ceeded in  dropping  as  soundly  asleep  as  my  com- 
panion, when  we  were  both  aroused  by  a  loud 
shout.  We  started  up,  and  again  crept  down- 
wards among  the  crags  to  the  shore  ;  and  as  we 
reached  the  sea,  the  shout  was  repeated.  It  was 
that  of  at  least  a  dozen  harsh  voices  united.  There 
was  a  brief  pause  followed  by  another  shout ;  and 
then  two  boats,  strongly  manned,  shot  round  the 


248  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

western  promontory,  and  the  men,  resting  on  their 
oars,  turned  towards  the  rock,  and  shouted  yet 
again.  The  whole  town  had  been  alarmed  by  the 
intelligence  that  two  little  boys  had  straggled 
away  in  the  morning  to  the  rocks  of  the  Southern 
Sutor,  and  had  not  found  their  way  back.  The 
•precipices  had  been  from  time  immemorial  a  scene 
of  frightful  accidents,  and  it  was  at  once  inferred 
that  one  other  sad  accident  had  been  added  to  the 
number.  True,  there  were  cases  remembered  of 
people  having  been  tide-bound  in  the  Doocot 
Caves,  and  not  much  the  worse  in  consequence ; 
but  as  the  caves  were  inaccessible  during  neaps, 
we  could  not,  it  was  said,  possibly  be  in  them ; 
and  the  sole  remaining  ground  of  hope  was,  that, 
as  had  happened  once  before,  only  one  of  the  two 
had  been  killed,  and  that  the  survivor  was  linger- 
ing among  the  rocks,  afraid  to  come  home.  And 
in  this  belief,  when  the  moon  rose  and  the  surf 
fell,  the  two  boats  had  been  fitted  out.  It  was 
late  in  the  morning  ere  we  reached  Cromarty,  but 
a  crowd  on  the  beach  awaited  our  arrival;  and 
there  were  anxious-looking  lights  glancing  in  the 
windows,  thick  and  manifold ;  nay,  sucli  was  the 
interest  elicited,  that  some  enormously  bad  verse, 
in  which  the  writer  described  the  incident  a  few 
days  after,  became  popular  enough  to  be  handed 
about  in  manuscript,  and  read  at  tea-parties,  by 
the  elite  of  the  town.  Poor  old  Miss  Bond,  who 
kept  the  town  boarding-school,  got  the  piece  nicely 
dressed  up,  somewhat  upon  the  principle  on  which 


STORY   OF   HUGH   MILLERS   EAKLY   DAYS.    24** 

Macpherson  translated  Ossian;  and  at  her  first 
school  examination — proud  and  happy  day  for  the 
author ! — it  was  recited  with  vast  applause,  by  one 
of  her  prettiest  young  ladies,  before  the  assembled 
taste  and  fashion  of  Cromarty." 

About  this  period,  schoolmaster  number  four  is 
appointed  to  the  Cromarty  subscription  academy. 
The  new  master  appeared,  to  his  more  advanced 
pupils,  a  combination  of  the  coxcomb  and  the 
pedant.  It  will  not  surprise  readers  in  possession 
of  this  information,  to  learn  that  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  (through  life  as  little  as  possible  of  either 
pedant  or  coxcomb)  did  not  long  keep  on  the  most 
amicable  terms  with  the  new  teacher.  A  fight 
arose  out  of  some  dispute  about  spelling,  which  so 
soon  as  finished,  Miller  takes  down  his  cap  from 
the  pin,  and  bids  the  pedagogue  good-bye,  having 
got  about  as  little  benefit  from  his  half-dozen  pre- 
ceptors as  probably  ever  did  any  man  of  equal 
eminence. 

'  Hugh  Miller  is  now  nearly  seventeen  years  of 
age  :  the  period  has  arrived  when  he  must  decide 
what  shall  be  the  business  of  his  life.  His  uncles 
had  expected  to  see  their  nephew  attaining  emi- 
nence in  some  of  the  learned  professions.  Their 
labor  was  their  only  capital,  yet  they  would  gladly 
have  assisted  him  in  getting  to  college.  But  to  all 
their  entreaties  he  pertinaciously  demurred.  He 
thought  himself  destitute  of  any  peculiar  fitness  for 
either  the  legal  or  the  medical  professions,  and  the 
church  was  too  serious  a  direction  in  winch  to  look 


250  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

for  his  bread,  unless  he  could  regard  himself  as 
called  to  the  church's  proper  work.  With  extreme 
reluctance  Hugh  Miller's  uncles  resigned  their 
nephew  to  a  life  of  manual  labor.  Consent,  how- 
ever, was  at  length  wrung  from  them,  and  their 
protege,  whom  they  would  gladly  have  sent  to  the 
university,  becomes  a  mason's  apprentice,  and  may 
be  seen  arrayed,  not  in  the  gown  of  the  scholar, 
but  in  a  suit  of  moleskins,  and  a  pair  of  heavy  hob- 
nailed shoes.  Unwilling  that  labor  should  wield 
over  him  a  rod  entirely  black,  the  profession  of  a 
mason  was  chosen  by  Hugh  Miller,  in  the  hope 
that  in  the  amusement  of  one  half  the  year,  he 
should  find  compensation  for  the  toils  of  the  other 
half.  Just  turned  seventeen,  Miller  enters  the 
quarry  of  Cromarty,  the  mason's  of  his  native  place 
combining  both  occupations.  Now  he  is  about  to 
reap  the  first  fruits  of  his  prolonged  excursions 
with  Uncle  Sandy.  The  quarry  was  an  upper 
member  of  that  formation  known  to  geologists  as 
the  Lower  Old  Ked  Sandstone,  and  here  Hugh 
Miller  soon  discovered  the  same  phenomena  he 
had  witnessed  on  the  sea-beach,  when  laid  bare  by 
the  ebb  tides.  His  own  description  of  the  scenes 
and  circumstances  in  which  his  first  day  of  toil  was 
passed  is  highly  fascinating : 

"  A  heap  of  loose  fragments  which  had  fallen 
from  above,  blocked  up  the  face  of  the  quarry,  and 
my  first  employment  was  to  clear  them  away. 
The  friction  of  the  shovel  soon  blistered  my  hands, 
.but  the  pain  was  by  no  means  very  severe,  and  I 


STORY   OF   HUGH   MILLER1  S    EARLY    DAYS.    251 

wrought  hard  and  willingly,  that  I  might  see  how 
the  huge  strata  below,  which  presented  so  firm 
and  unbroken  a  frontage,  were  to  be  torn  up  and 
removed.  Picks,  and  wedges,  and  levers,  were 
applied  by  my  brother-workmen ;  and  simple  and 
rude  as  I  had  been  accustomed  to  regard  these 
implements,  I  found  I  had  much  to  learn  in  the 
way  of  using  them.  They  all  proved  inefficient, 
however,  and  the  workmen  had  to  bore  into 
one  of  the  inferior  strata,  and  employ  gunpowder. 
The  process  was  new  to  me,  and  I  deemed  it  a 
highly  amusing  one ;  it  had  the  merit,  too,  of 
being  attended  with  some  such  degree  of  danger 
as  a  boating  or  rock  excursion,  and  had  thus  an 
interest  independent  of  its  novelty.  We  had  a 
few  capital  shots :  the  fragments  flew  in  every 
direction ;  and  an  immense  mass  of  the  diluvium 
came  toppling  down,  bearing  with  it  two  dead 
birds,  that  in  a  recent  storm  had  crept  into  one  01 
the  deeper  fissures,  to  die  in  the  shelter.  I  felt  a 
new  interest  in  examining  them.  The  one  was  a 
pretty  cock-goldfinch,  with  its  hood  of  vermilion, 
and  its  wings  inlaid  with  the  gold  to  which  it  o\ves 
its  name,  as  unsoiled  and  smooth  as  if  it  had  been 
preserved  for  a  museum.  The  other,  a  somewhat 
rarer  bird,  of  the  woodpecker  tribe,  was  variegated 
with  light-blue  and  a  grayish-yellow.  I  was  engaged 
in  admiring  the  poor  little  things,  more  disposed  to 
be  sentimental,  perhaps,  than  if  I  had  been  ten 
years  older,  and  thinking  of  the  contrast  between 
the  warmth  and  jollity  of  their  green  summer 


252*  MEX   WHO   HAV3   HIS  EN. 

haunts,  and  the  cold  and  darkness  of  their  last  re- 
treat, when  I  heard  our  employer  bidding  the 
workmen  lay  by  their  tools.  I  looked  up  and  saw 
the  sun  sinking  behind  the  thick  fir  wood  beside  us, 
and  the  long  dark  shadows  of  the  trees  stretching 
downwards  towards  the  shore. 

"  This  was  no  very  formidable  beginning  of  the 
course  of  life  I  had  so  much  dreaded.  To  be  sure, 
my  hands  were  a  little  sore,  and  I  felt  nearly  as 
much  fatigued  as  if  I  had  been  climbing  among 
the  rocks;  but  I  had  wrought  and  been  useful, 
and  had  yet  enjoyed  the  day  fully  as  much  as 
usual.  It  was  no  small  matter,  too,  that  the  even- 
ing, converted,  by  a  rare  transmutation,  into  the 
delicious  'blink  of  rest'  which  Burns  so  truth- 
fully describes,  was  all  my  own.  I  was  as  light 
of  heart  next  morning  as  any  of  my  brother-work- 
men. There  had  been  a  smart  frost  during  the 
night,  and  the  rime  lay  white  on  the  grass  as  we 
passed  onwards  through  the  fields ;  but  the  sun 
rose  in  a  clear  atmosphere,  and  the  day  mel- 
lowed, as  it  advanced,  into  one  of  those  delightful 
days  of  early  spring,  which  give  so  pleasing  an 
earnest  of  whatever  is  mild  and  genial  in  the  bet- 
ter half  of  the  year.  All  the  workmen  rested  at 
mid-day,  and  I  went  to  enjoy  my  half-hour  alone 
on  a  mossy  knoll  in  the  neighboring  wood,  which 
commands  through  the  trees  a  wide  prospect  ol 
the  bay  and  the  opposite  shore.  There  was  not  a 
wrinkle  on  the  water,  nor  a  cloud  in  the  sky,  and 
the  branches  were  as  moveless  in  the  calm  as  if 


STOKY  OF  iiujii  MILLER'S  EAKLY  DAYS.  253 

they  had  been  traced  on  canvas.  From  a  wooded 
promontory  that  stretched  half-way  across  the  frith, 
there  ascended  a  thin  column  of  smoke.  It  rose 
straight  as  the  line  of  a  plummet  for  more  than  a 
thousand  yards,  and  then  on  reaching  a  thinner 
stratum  of  air,  spread  out  equally  on  every  side, 
like  the  foliage  of  a  stately  tree.  Ben  Wy vis  rose 
to  the  west,  white  with  the  yet  un wasted  snows 
of  winter,  and  as  sharply  denned  in  the  clear  at- 
mosphere as  if  all  its  sunny  slopes  and  blue  retir- 
ing hollows  had  been  chiseled  in  marble.  A  line 
of  snow  ran  along  the  opposite  hills ;  all  above 
was  white,  and  all  below  was  purple.  They 
reminded  me  of  the  pretty  French  story,  in  which 
an  old  artist  is  described  as  tasking  the  ingenuity 
of  his  future  son-in-law,  by  giving  him  as  a  subject 
for  his  pencil  a  flower-piece  composed  of  only  white 
flowers,  of  which  the  one  half  were  to  bear  their 
proper  color,  the  other  half  a  deep  purple  hue, 
and  yet  all  to  be  perfectly  natural ;  and  how  the 
young  man  resolved  to  riddle  and  gained  his 
mistress,  by  introducing  a  transparent  purple  vase 
into  the  picture,  and  making  the  light  pass  through 
it  on  the  flowers  that  were  drooping  over  the  edge. 
I  returned  to  the  quarry,  convinced  that  a  very  ex- 
quisite pleasure  may  be  a  very  cheap  one,  and  that 
the  busiest  employments  may  afford  leisure  enougli 
to  enjoy  it. 

"  The  gunpowder  had  loosened  a  large  mass  in 
one  of  the  inferior  strata,  and  our  first  employment, 
on  resuming  our  labors,  was  to  raise  it  from  its 


254:  MEN    WHO    HAVE    RISEN. 

bed.  I  assisted  the  other  workmen  in  placing  it 
on  edge,  and  was  much  struck  by  the  appearance 
of  the  platform  on  which  it  rested.  The  entire 
surface  was  ridged  and  furrowed  like  a  bank  of 
sand  that  had  been  left  by  the  tide  on  hour  before. 
I  could  trace  every  bend  and  curvature,  every  crosj 
hollow  and  counter  ridge  of  the  corresponding  phe- 
nomena; for  the  resemblance  was  no  half  resem- 
blance— it  was  the  thing  itself;  and  I  had  observed 
it  a  hundred  and  a  hundred  times,  when  sailing  my 
little  schooner  in  the  shallows  left  by  the  ebb. 
But  what  had  become  of  the  waves  that  had  thus 
fretted  the  solid  rock,  or  of  what  element  had 
they  been  composed?  I  felt  as  completely  at 
fault  as  Robinson  Crusoe  did  on  his  discovering 
the  print  of  a  man's  foot  on  the  sand.  The  even- 
ing furnished  me  with  still  further  cause  of  won- 
der. We  raised  another  block  in  a  different  part 
of  the  quarry,  and  found  that  the  area  of  a  circular 
depression  in  the  stratum  below  was  broken  and 
flawed  in  every  direction,  as  if  it  had  been  the 
bottom  of  a  pool  recently  dried  up,  which  had 
shrunk  and  split  in  the  hardening.  Several  large 
stones  came  rolling  down  from  the  diluvium  in 
the  course  of  the  afternoon.  They  were  of  differ- 
ent qualities  from  the  sandstone  below,  and 
from  one  another ;  and,  what  was  more  wonderful 
still,  they  were  all  rounded  and  water-worn,  as  ir 
they  had  been  tossed  about  in  the  sea,  or  the  bed 
of  a  river,  for  hundreds  of  years.  There  could 
not,  surely,  be  a  more  conclusive  proof  that  the 


STOKY    OF   HUGH    MILLElt's   KAKLY    DAYS.      255 

bank  which  had  inclosed  them  so  long  could  not 
have  been  created  on  the  rock  on  which  it  rested. 
No  workman  ever  manufactures  a  half-worn  article, 
and  the  stones  were  all  half-worn  !  And  if  not 
the  bank,  why  then  the  sandstone  underneath  ?  I 
was  lost  in  conjecture,  and  found  I  had  food 
enough  for  thought  that  evening,  without  once 
thinking  of  the  unhappmess  of  a  life  of  labor." 

He  had  entered  the  school  of  labor  with  the 
timidity  of  the  yet  undeveloped  mind  that  shrinks 
from  grappling  with  the  stern  realities  of  life; 
but  surrounded  with  images  of  grandeur,  of 
beauty,  and  of  liberty,  on  every  side,  the  spirit 
of  the  future  geologist  shook  off  the  shrinking 
and  timidity  with  which  it  had  been  oppressed, 
and  the  remembrance  of  those  early  days  of  toil 
dictated  that  noble  apostrophe  to  labor,  with 
which  he  has  adorned  his  "Schools  and  School- 
masters :"  "  Upright,  self-relying  toil !  Who 
that  knows  thy  solid  worth  and  value  would  be 
ashamed  of  thy  hard  hands  and  thy  soiled  vest- 
ments, and  thy  obscure  tasks — thy  humble  cot- 
tage, and  hard  couch,  and  homely  fare  !  Save  for 
thee  and  thy  lessons,  man  in  society  would  every- 
where sink  into  a  sad  compound  of  the  fiend  and 
the  wild  beast,  and  this  fallen  world  would  be  as 
certainly  a  moral  as  a  natural  wilderness." 

Though  the  dreaded  proved  imaginary,  never- 
theless some  real  evils  followed  his  entrance  upon 
a  life  of  toil.  The  seeds  of  that  mysterious  com- 
bination of  physical  and  mental  disease  whichr 


256  MEX    WHO    HAVE    K1SEN. 

some  forty  years  afterwards,  did  its  work  in  so  very- 
terrible  a  manner,  were  sown  in  the  quarry  of 
Crornarty.  Wandering  pains  in  the  joints,  an 
oppressive  feeling  about  the  chest,  frequent  fits  of 
extreme  depression  of  spirits,  and  inability  to  pro- 
tect himself  against  accident,  are  noted  as  suffered 
by  Hugh  Miller  during  the  first  months  of  his  ap- 
prenticeship. And  if  to  these  we  add  partial  fits 
of  somnambulism,  of  which  he  was  also  at  this 
time  the  victim,  we  shall  not  be  far  wrong  in  con- 
cluding that  the  calamity  which  laid  him  low,  was 
a  calamity  he  had  long  silently  combated.  Retir- 
ing from  the  over-wrought  quarries  of  Cromarty, 
Hugh  Miller  crossed  the  Moray  Frith,  and  began 
work  in  a  new  field.  Here,  by  the  hill  of  Eathie, 
he  discovered  a  liassic  deposit,  so  amazingly  rich 
in  organisms,  that  the  great  Alexandrian  library, 
with  its  tomes  of  ancient  literature,  the  accumula- 
tion of  long  ages,  was  but  a  meagre  collection  in 
comparison.  The  working  season  of  the  mason  is 
now  over,  and  the  next  three  months  are  Hugh 
Miller's  exclusive  property.  In  the  company  of  a 
cousin  he  makes  a  Highland  tour — visits  his 
cousin's  father-in-law  in  the  upper  district  of 
Strathcarron.  The  road  to  the  shieling  of  this 
aged  shepherd  lay  through  an  uninhabited  valley 
strewed  with  the  ruins  of  fallen  cottages,  in  other 
days  the  roof-trees  of  the  best  swordsmen  in  Ross. 
Returned  from  his  excursion  into  the  interior, 
Hugh  Miller  formed,  or  rather  we  should  say  re- 
newed, acquaintance  with  an  apprentice  house- 


STOKY   OF   HUGH    MILLEli's   EARLY   DAYS.      257 

painter  in  Cromarty.     William  Ross  was  a  lad  of 
genius,  but  diffident  and  melancholy,  Avith  a  fine 
eye  and  keen  relish  for  the  beautiful  and  sublime, 
but  the  joy  with  which  the  contemplation  of  nature 
inspired  his  soul  was  overcast  by  the  conscious- 
ness that  soon  her  raptures  would  be  for  other 
eyes  than  his.     Many  a  moonlight  walk  the  two 
friends  took  together,   visiting   at  nightfall  the 
glades  of  the  surrounding  woods,  and  listening  to 
the  moaning  winds  sweeping  sullenly  along  the 
pines.     But  now  winter  is  past,  and  moonlight 
walks  and  moody  reveries  must  have  an  end  for  a 
time.     Spring  has  come  again,  and  again  Hugh 
Miller  girds  himself  for  the  active  duties  of  the 
stone-cutter.     Before  midsummer,  however,  work 
has  failed  his  master,  and  the  squad  is  thrown  out 
of  employment.     Uncle  David,  during  twenty-five 
years  an  employer  of  labor,  is  compelled  to  be- 
come a  journeyman.     The  old  man,  after  consider- 
able effort,  at  length  found  "  a  brother  of  the  earth 
to  give  him  leave  to  toil."     Hugh  Miller,  too  loyal 
to  abandon  his  master  in  the  hour  of  adversity, 
was  first  brought  by  this  misfortune  into  contact 
with  the  bothy  system,  then  only  in  its  infancy, 
but  now  unhappily  diffused  over  a  large  area  of 
Scotland.    Bothy  life,  it  might  have  been  supposed, 
was  not  likely  to  bring  the  subject  of  our  narrative 
into  contact  with  anything  save  the  riotous  glee 
and  practical  joking  of  the  barrack,  but  it  was  not 
so.     From  reason's  earliest  dawn  until  reason  was 
no  more,  Hugh  Miller  was  ever  encompassed  with 
17 


258  MEN    WHO    HAVE   EISEN. 

much  of  the  wild  and  supernatural.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  first  day  passed  in  this  new  school,  he 
had  repaired  to  a  hay-loft,  the  only  place  of  shelter 
he  could  find.  Exhausted  nature  found  its  needed 
repose  on  a  heap  of  straw.  But,  unaccustomed  to 
so  rough  a  couch,  he  awoke  at  midnight,  and  was 
looking  out  from  a  small  window  upon  a  dreary 
moor,  a  ruinous  chapel,  and  a  solitary  burying- 
ground.  Suddenly  a  light  flickered  among  the 
grave-stones,  and  what  seemed  a  continuous 
screaming  was  heard  from  among  the  tombs. 
Quitting  the  churchyard,  the  light  crossed  the 
moor  in  a  straight  line,  tossed  with  many  a  wave 
and  flourish.  In  a  moment  the  servant  girls  of 
the  mansion-house  came  rushing  out  in  undress, 
summoning  the  workmen  to  their  assistance.  Mad 
Bell  had  broke  out  again.  As  the  masons  ap- 
peared at  the  door,  they  were  joined  by  the  solitary 
watcher  from  the  loft.  It  was,  however,  soon  dis- 
covered that  the  maniac  was  already  in  custody. 
Two  men  were  dragging  her  to  her  own  cottage. 
On  entering  her  hut,  they  proceeded  to  bind  her 
down  to  the  damp  earth.  Hugh  Miller  and  a 
comrade  successfully  remonstrated — the  maniac 
was  not  bound.  Mad  Bell's  song  ceased  for  a 
moment,  and,  turning  a  keen,  scrutinizing  glance 
upon  the  youths  who  had  spoken  good  for  her, 
she  emphatically  repeated  the  sacred  text,  "  Blessed 
are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain  mercy." 

Hugh  Miller  had  just  turned  twenty-one,  when, 
work   failing    in    the    north,   he    bade    adieu   to 


STORY    OF   HUGH   MILLEE^S    EAKLY   DAYS.      259 

northern  scenes  and  northern  friends,  and  sailed 
from  his  native  town,  ambitious  to  mate  himself 
with  the  stone-cutters  of  the  metropolis,  then  re- 
puted the  best  stone-cutters  in  the  world.  After 
a  four  days'  voyage  he  landed  at  Leith,  and  from 
Leith  proceeded  to  Edinburgh.  "While  sauntering 
along  Princes  Street,  admiring  the  picturesque 
views  with  which  the  Scottish  capital  so  abounds, 
he  is  laid  hold  of  by  a  slim  pale  lad  in  moleskins. 
It  was  William  Ross  ;  and  during  what  remained 
of  that  night  the  two  friends  explored  the  city 
together.  Hugh  Miller  found  work  in  the  vicinity 
of  Niddry  Mill ;  and  beneath  the  shade  of  Niddry 
Wood  it  was  that  he  first  became  practically  ac- 
quainted with  combinations.  A  reduction  of 
wages  had  produced  a  strike.  Hugh  did  not  be- 
lieve in  strikes,  and  predicted  that  the  one  in 
which  they  had  become  involved  would  be  a 
failure.  The  leader  of  the  squad  more  than  half 
admitted  he  was  right.  But  to  that  reckless  dare- 
devil Charles,  or  Cha,  as  his  comrades  called  him, 
the  excitement  of  a  monster  meeting  on  Brunts- 
field  Links  outweighed  the  dictates  of  prudence. 
So  the  masons  marched  away  to  the  gathering 
on  the  Links.  The  outdoor  meeting  over,  a  low 
tavern  in  Canongate  received  the  heroes  from 
Niddry.  They  were  to  meet  again  in  the  evening, 
in  one  of  the  halls  of  Edinburgh,  but  in  the  tavern 
they  grew  deaf  to  time,  and  oblivious  of  all  con- 
nected with  the  strike.  Hugh  Miller,  leaving  his 
companions  to  their  revel,  passed  the  night  with 


260  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

his  friend  William  Ross.  William  took  a  warm 
interest  in  strikes,  and  entertained  quite  as  san- 
guine hopes  about  the  happy  influence  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  union  upon  the  British  proletair  as  the 
most  ardent  of  French  Socialists.  But  though 
the  two  friends  could  not  agree  in  their  opinions 
upon  trades  combinations  or  the  value  of  strikes, 
in  the  tastes  and  sympathies  shared  in  common 
these  differences  were  forgotten. 

The  following  graphic  sketch  of  "  poor  Charles," 
who  figures  as  leader  in  the  strike,  shows  in  a  very 
forcible  manner  how  talents  of  no  mean  order  are 
frequently  shipwrecked :  "  No  man  of  the  party 
squandered  his  gains  more  recklessly  than  Charles, 
or  had  looser  notions  regarding  the  legitimacy  of 
the  uses  to  which  he  too  often  applied  them. 
And  yet,  notwithstanding,  he  was  a  generous- 
hearted  fellow ;  and,  under  the  influence  of  reli- 
gious principle,  would,  like  Burns  himself,  have 
made  a  very  noble  man.  In  gradually  forming 
my  acquaintance, with  him,  I  was  at  first  struck  by 
the  circumstance  that  he  never  joined  in  the 
clumsy  ridicule  with  which  I  used  to  be  assailed 
by  the  other  workmen.  When  left,  too,  on  one 
occasion,  in  consequence  of  a  tacit  combination 
against  me,  to  roll  up  a  large  stone  to  the  sort  of 
block  bench,  or  siege,  as  it  is  technically  termed, 
on  which  the  mass  had  to  be  hewn,  and  as  I 
was  slowly  succeeding  in  doing,  through  dint  of 
very  violent  effort,  what  some  two  or  three  men 
usually  united  to  do,  Charles  stepped  out  to  assist 


STOKY   OF   HUGH   MILLEIl's    EAKLY   DAYS.     261 

me;  and  the  combination  at  once  broke  down. 
Unlike  the  others,  too,  who,  while  they  never 
scrupled  to  take  odds  against  me,  seemed  suffi- 
ciently chary  of  coming  in  contact  with  me  singly, 
lie  learned  to  seek  me  out  in  our  intervals  of 
labor,  and  to  converse  upon  subjects  upon  which 
we  felt  a  common  interest.  He  was  not  only  an 
excellent  operative  mechanic,  but  possessed  also 
of  considerable  architectural  skill ;  and  in  this 
special  province  we  found  an  interchange  of  idea 
not  unprofitable.  He  had  a  turn,  too,  for  reading, 
though  he  was  by  no  means  extensively  read ;  and 
liked  to  converse  about  books.  Nor,  though  the 
faculty  had  been  but  little  cultivated,  was  he  de- 
void of  an  eye  for  the  curious  in  nature.  On 
directing  his  attention,  one  morning,  to  a  well- 
marked  impression  of  lepidodendron,  which  deli- 
cately fretted  with  its  lozenge-shaped  net-work 
one  of  the  planes  of  the  stone  before  me,  he  began 
to  describe,  with  a  minuteness  of  observation  not 
common  among  working  men,  certain  strange 
forms  which  had  attracted  his  notice  when  em- 
ployed among  the  gray  flagstones  of  Forfarshire. 
I  long  after  recognized  in  his  description  that 
strange  crustacean  of  the  Middle  Old  Red  Sand- 
stone of  Scotland,  the  Pterygotus — an  organism 
which  was  wholly  unknown  at  this  time  to  geolo- 
gists, and  which  is  but  partially  known  still ;  and  I 
saw  in  1838,  on  the  publication,  in  its  first  edition, 
of  the  '  Elements '  of  Sir  Charles  Lyell,  what  he 
meant  to  indicate  by  a  rude  sketch  which  he  drew 


262  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

on  the  stone  before  us,  and  which,  to  the  base  of 
a  semi-elipsis  somewhat  resembling  a  horse-shoe, 
united  an  angular  prolongation  not  very  unlike 
the  iron  stem  of  a  pointing  trowel  drawn  from  the 
handle.  He  had  evidently  seen,  long  ere  it  had 
been  detected  by  the  scientific  eye,  that  strange 
ichthyolite  of  the  Old  Red  system,  the  Cephalaspis. 
His  story,  though  he  used  to  tell  it  with  great 
humor,  and  no  little  dramatic  effect,  was  in 
reality  a  very  sad  one.  He  had  quarreled,  when 
quite  a  lad,  with  one  of  his  fellow-workmen,  and 
was  unfortunate  enough,  in  the  pugilistic  encounter 
which  followed,  to  break  his  jaw-bone,  and  other- 
wise so  severely  to  injure  him,  that  for  some  time 
his  recovery  seemed  doubtful.  Flying,  pursued 
by  the  officers  of  the  law,  he  was,  after  a  few 
days'  hiding,  apprehended,  lodged  in  jail,  tried  at 
the  High  Court  of  Justiciary,  and  ultimately  sen- 
tenced to  three  months'  imprisonment.  And 
these  three  months  he  had  to  spend — for  such  was 
the  wretched  arrangement  of  the  time — in  the 
worst  society  in  the  world.  In  sketching,  as  he 
sometimes  did,  for  the  general  amusement,  the 
characters  of  the  various  prisoners  with  whom  he 
had  associated — from  the  sneaking  pick-pocket 
and  the  murderous  ruffian,  to  the  simple  Highland 
smuggler,  who  had  converted  his  grain  into 
whisky,  with  scarce  intelligence  enough  to  see 
that  there  was  aught  morally  wrong  in  the  trans- 
action— he  sought  only  to  be  as  graphic  and 
humorous  as  he  could,  and  always  with  complete 


STORY  OF  HUGH  MILLER^  EARLY  DAYS.  263 

success.     But  there  attached  to  his  narratives  an 
unintentional  moral ;  and  I  cannot  yet  call  them 
up  without   feeling  indignant  at  that  detestable 
practice  of  promiscuous   imprisonment  which  so 
long  obtained  in  our  country,  and  which  had  the 
eifect  of  converting  its  jails  into  such  complete 
criminal-manufacturing  institutions,  that,  had  the 
honest  men  of  the  community  risen  and  dealt  by 
them  as  the  Lord-George-Gordon  mob  dealt  with 
Newgate,  I  hardly  think  they  would  have  been 
acting   out   of  character.      Poor   Charles   had   a 
nobility  in  his  nature  which  saved  him  from  being 
contaminated  by  what  was  worst  in  his  meaner 
associates ;  but   he  was  none  the  better  for  his 
imprisonment,   and   he  quitted  jail,  of  course,  a 
marked  man ;  and  his  after  career  was,  I  fear,  all 
the  more  reckless  in  consequence  of  the  stain  im- 
parted at  this  time  to  his  character.     He  was  as 
decidedly  a  leader  among  his  brother  workmen  as 
I  myself  had  been,  when  sowing  my  wild  oats, 
among    my    school-fellows  ;    but    society    in    its 
settled  state,  and  in  a  country  such  as  ours,  allows 
no  such  scope  to  the  man  as  it  does  to  the  boy ; 
and  so  his  leadership,  dangerous  both  to  himself 
and  his  associates,  had  chiefly,  as  the  scene  of  its 
trophies,  the  grosser  and  more  lawless  haunts  of 
vice   and   dissipation.      His    course   through   life 
was  a  sad,  and,  I  fear,  a  brief  one.     When  that 
sudden  crash  in  the  commercial  world  took  place, 
in  which  the  speculation  mania  of  1824-25  ter- 
minated, he  was,  with  thousands  more,   thrown 


264  MEN   WHO   HAVE   BISKS'. 

out  of  employment  ;  and,  having  saved  not  a 
farthing  of  his  earnings,  he  was  compelled,  under 
the  pressure  of  actual  want,  to  enlist  as  a  soldier 
into  one  of  the  regiments  of  the  line,  bound  for  one 
of  the  intertropical  colonies.  And  there,  as  his  old 
comrades  lost  all  trace  of  him,  he  too  probably  fell 
a  victim,  in  an  insalubrious  climate,  to  old  habits 
and  new  rum." 

With  bitter  grief,  Hugh  Miller  discovered  that 
his  early  companion,  William  Ross,  was  fast  losing 
confidence  in  his  own  powers — the  shadow  of  the 
cypress  shed  its  sadness  into  his  soul.  In  reply  to 
an  effort  to  rally  him,  with  characteristic  modesty 
he  exclaimed :  "  Ah,  Miller  !  what  matters  it  about 
me  ?  You  have  stamina  in  you,  and  will  force  your 
way,  but  I  want  strength ;  the  world  will  never 
hear  of  me."  The  prophecy  was  all  too  surely  and 
too  swiftly  realized.  But  a  little  while,  and  that 
thin,  pale,  fair-haired,  flat-chested,  stooping  figure, 
already  a  drooping  and  withered  flower,  has  quietly 
dropped  into  the  grave,  and  his  one  friend  on  earth 
sighs  for  "  the  touch  of  a  vanished  hand,  and  the 
sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still." 

When  Hugh  Miller  was  working  as  an  operat- 
ive mason  at  Niddry,  not  London  itself  was  the 
centre  of  a  greater  literary  activity  than  the  Scot- 
tish capital.  Yet,  though  living  in  the  light  of 
that  galaxy  of  genius  which  then  shed  so  great  a 
lustre  over  Scotland,  he  was  never  fortunate 
enough  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  either  Jeffrey  or 
Wilson.  Dugald  Stewart  or  Sir  Walter  Scott. 


STORY   OF   HUGH   MILLERS    EAKLY    DAYS.    265 

His  personal  recollections  dating  from  this  period 
(with  the  single  exception  of  the  historian  of  Knox 
and  Melville)  embrace  none  of  the  celebrities  of 
the  metropolis.  When  leaving  Cromarty,  the 
last  injunction  of  his  uncle  was,  "Be  sure  and 
visit  Dr.  M'Crie's  Church  when  in  Edinburgh." 
The  precept  was  obeyed.  Much  has  since  been 
said  and  written  about  Thomas  M'Crie,  but  the 
most  impressive  picture  of  that  thin,  spare,  semi- 
military,  semi-ecclesiastical  figure,  with  an  air  of 
melancholy  spreading  its  soft  shadow  upon  his 
countenance,  has  been  painted  by  Hugh  Miller. 

After  about  a  couple  of  years  of  labor  in  Edin- 
burgh, the  subject  of  our  narrative  felt  premoni- 
tions of  that  disease  of  the  lungs  and  chest  which 
has    made  the  stone-cutters    of  the  metropolis  a 
short-lived  race.     To  recruit  his  exhausted  ener- 
gies, he  resolved  to   revisit  his  birthplace;  and 
after  a  somewhat  tedious  voyage,  he   again   sets 
foot  on  the  beach  of  his  native  town.     On  his 
return  to   Cromarty,  Hugh  Miller  found   an  old 
companion,  one  of  a  band  he  had  long  led  in  days 
of   youthful    frolic,  relinquishing    superior    com- 
mercial prospects  for  the  work  of  the  ministry ; 
and  to  the  influence  of  this  reunion  and   disin- 
terested example  did  he  trace  it  that  now  religion's 
tranquil  star  shed   over  his  soul  its  selectest  in- 
fluence.    For  some  months  after    his    return   to 
Cromarty,  he  continued  in  delicate  and  indifferent 
health.     Not  a  moment  too  soon  had  he  made  his 
escape  from  the   stone-cutter's  malady.     When 
12 


266  MEN   WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

health  was  again  somewhat  established,  he  set 
about  executing  sculptured  tablets  and  tombstones 
— a  kind  of  work  in  which  he  excelled.  But  a 
sufficiency  of  this  species  of  employment  not  being 
found  in  Cromarty,  he  visited  Inverness.  Here 
his  skill  as  a  stone-cutter  received  the  promptest 
recognition;  and  while  his  days  were  given  to 
toil,  his  nights  were  employed  in  preparing  a 
volume  of  poetry  for  the  press.  The  volume  of 
verse  did  little  else  for  his  fame  than  bring  him 
into  contact  with  Mr.  Carruthers,  editor  of  the 
Inverness  Courier.  Mr.  Carruthers  introduced 
him  to  the  late  Principal  Baird,  and,  at  his 
suggestion,  that  most  delightful  of  all  Hugh 
Miller's  works,  his  "  Schools  and  Schoolmasters," 
was  planned  and  written.  About  this  time,  also, 
it  was  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  late  Sir 
Thomas  Dick  Lauder.  He  likewise,  now,  became 
known  to  certain  young  ladies,  and  especially  to 
Miss  Lydia  Mackenzie  Frazer. 

A  branch  of  the  Commercial  Bank  having  been 
opened  in  Cromarty,  Hugh  Miller  was  appointed 
accountant.  To  gain  the  necessary  experience, 
he  was  sent  to  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Com- 
mercial at  Linlithgow.  At  first  he  was  a  little 
awkward  in  his  new  vocation,  but,  having  mastered 
the  central  princple,  around  which  the  details 
grouped  themselves,  he  suddenly  shot  up  into  an 
accomplished  accountant.  During  the  first  year 
of  his  accountantship,  "  Scenes  and  Legends  of 
the  North  of  Scotland  "  appeared,  wherein  he  says: 


STOKY  OF  HUGH  MILLEIi's  EARLY  DAYS.      267 

— "There  is  no  personage  of  real  life  who  can  be 
more  properly  regarded  as  a  hermit  of  the  church- 
yard than  the  itinerant  sculptor,  who  wanders  front 
one  country  burying-ground  to  another,  recording 
on  his  tablets  of  stone  the  tears  of  the  living  and 
the  worth  of  the  dead.  If  possessed  of  a  common 
portion  of  feeling  and  imagination,  he  cannot  fail 
of  deeming  his  profession  a  school  of  benevolence 
and  poetry.  For  my  own  part,  I  have  seldom 
thrown  aside  the  hammer  and  trowel  of  the  stone- 
mason for  the  chisel  of  the  itinerant  sculptor,  with- 
out receiving  some  fresh  confirmation  of  the  opinion. 
How  often  have  I  suffered  my  mallet  to  rest  on 
the  unfinished  epitaph,  when  listening  to  some 
friend  of  the  buried  expatiating  with  all  the 
eloquence  of  grief  on  the  mysterious  warning  and 
the  sad  death-bed — on  the  worth  that  had  departed, 
and  the  sorrow  that  remained  behind !  How  often, 
forgetting  that  I  was  merely  an  auditor,  have  I  so 
identified  myself  with  the  mourner,  as  to  feel  my 
heart  swell  and  my  eyes  becoming  moist !  Even 
the  very  aspect  of  a  solitary  churchyard  seems 
conducive  to  habits  of  thought  and  feeling.  I 
have  risen  from  my  employment  to  mark  the 
shadow  of  tombstone  and  burial  mound  creeping 
over  the  sward  at  my  feet,  and  have  been  rendered 
serious  by  the  reflection,  that  as  those  gnomons  of 
the  dead  marked  out  no  line  of  hours,  though  the 
hours  passed  as  the  shadows  moved,  so,  in  that 
eternity  in  which  even  the  dead  exist,  there  is  a 
nameless  tide  of  continuity,  but  no  division  of 


268  MEN   WHO   HAVE 

time.  I  have  become  sad,  when,  lo  oking  on  the 
green  mounds  around  me,  I  have  regarded  them 
as  waves  of  triumph  which  time  and  death  had 
rolled  over  the  wreck  of  man;  and  the  feeling  has 
been  deepened,  when,  looking  down  with  the  eye 
of  imagination  through  this  motionless  sea  of 
graves,  I  have  marked  the  sad  remains  of  both 
the  long  departed  and  the  recent  dead,  thickly 
strewed  over  the  bottom.  I  have  grieved  above 
the  half-soiled  shroud  of  her  for  whom  the  tears  of 
bereavement  had  not  yet  been  dried  up,  and  sighed 
over  the  mouldering  bones  of  him  whose  very 
name  had  long  since  perished  from  the  earth." 

During  the  second  year  of  his  accountantship, 
Lydia  Mackenzie  Fraser  became  Mrs.  Miller ;  and 
in  order  to  supplement  his  income,  which  did  not 
noAV  look  quite  so  large  as  once  it  would  have 
done,  the  bank  accountant  began  to  write  for  the 
periodicals.  "  Wilson's  Tales  of  the  Borders,"  and, 
subsequently,  "  Chambers's  Edinburgh  Journal," 
were  enriched  with  frequent  contributions  from 
his  pen.  The  period  had,  however,  now  come 
when  Hugh  Miller  was  to  be  drawn  aside  from 
the  serene  walks  of  literature  and  science,  into  the 
stormy  arena  of  ecclesiastical  polemics.  The  great 
Non-intrusion  controversy  was  at  its  height.  The 
House  of  Lords  had  decided  the  Auchterarder 
case.  A  sleepless  night  passed  by  Mr.  Miller 
after  learning  that  decision  resulted  in  "  A  Letter 
from  one  of  the  Scotch  People  to  the  Right  Hon. 
Lord  Brougham."  This  brochure  was  no  sooner 


STOKY  OF  HUGH  MILLEIt's  EARLY  DAYS.      269 

published,  than  it  was  pronounced  one  of  the 
ablest  appeals  from  the  popular  side  of  the  Church 
which  the  controversy  had  produced.  Its  racy 
English  was  enjoyed  by  O'Connell,  and  even  Mr. 
Gladstone  pronounced  a  fervid  eulogium  on  its 
surpassing  merits.  Stimulated  at  once  by  his  own 
intense  interest  in  the  question,  and  by  the  notice 
his  first  pamphlet  attracted,  a  second,  quite  equal 
to  the  first,  was  quickly  ready.  These  pamphlets 
were  his  passports  to  the  position  he  was  about  to 
be  called  to  occupy  in  Edinburgh. 

The  Non-intrusion  leaders  were  in  quest  of  an 
editor  for  a  paper  they  were  about  to  start  in 
the  metropolis ;  and  no  sooner  had  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  of  them  read  those  rare  tractates? 
than  with  characteristic  promptitude  he  exclaimed, 
"  Here  is  the  man  for  our  Witness."  A  letter  to 
the  bank  accountant  was  dispatched  from  Edin- 
burgh, summoning  him  to  a  conference  with  the 
leading  Non-intrusionists ;  Hugh  Miller  repaired 
to  the  Scottish  capital,  accepted  the  editorship  of 
the  projected  journal,  and  terminated  his  engage- 
ment with  the  Commercial  Bank.  Thus  it  came 
to  pass,  that  he  who  in  early  life  felt  no  call  to 
become  a  minister  of  the  Church,  now,  in  the 
maturity  of  his  power,  voluntarily  assumes  the 
onerous  position  of  defender  of  the  Church's  most 
sacred  spiritual  privileges.  It  is  no  purpose  of 
this  sketch  to  enter  upon  the  discussion  of  vexed 
questions  in  Church  controversy ;  we  are  ready  to 
acknowledge  that  widely  different  opinions  may 


270  MEN    WHO   HATE   KISEN. 

be  formed  upon  the  justness  of  the  principles  for 
which  Hugh  Miller  contended,  and  to  the  advo- 
cacy of  which  the  Witness  was  devoted.  There 
can,  however,  be  only  one  opinion  respecting  the 
great  and  peculiar  ability  which  he  brought  to  the 
defense  and  vindication  of  the  principles  of  his 
party.  Nor,  while  remembering  and  recording 
this  fact,  must  it  be  forgotten  that  the  Witness 
newspaper  has  ever  been  something  very  different 
from  a  merely  ecclesiastical  organ.  Hugh  Miller 
brought  to  his  editorial  labors  a  mind  imbued 
with  the  noblest  literature  of  England.  His  per_ 
feet  familiarity  with  the  great  masters  of  English 
prose  gave  to  all  his  works  that  charm  of  style  for 
which  they  are  so  remarkable.  In  the  literature 
of  the  Scottish  Legend,  he  rivaled  Hogg  ;  and  as 
a  geologist,  he  at  once  took  his  place  beside  the 
Bucklands  and  the  Murchisons,  the  Sedgwicks 
and  the  Lyells.  From  all  these  varied  sources  he 
drew  at  will  treasures  new  and  old,  wherewith  to 
enrich  the  columns  of  the  journal  with  which,  for 
the  last  sixteen  years  of  his  life,  his  name  was 
identified.  If  there  were  brother  editors  his 
superiors  in  that  prompt  concentration  of  mental 
power  which  enables  the  journalist  to  write  well 
upon  the  topic  of  the  hour,  we  know  no  journalist, 
either  Scottish  or  English,  who  has  furnished  a 
series  of  leading  articles,  on  nearly  every  conceiv- 
able topic  within  the  range  of  newspaper  criticism, 
so  distinguished  at  once  by  imaginative,  logical, 
and  high  literary  power.  By  turns  humorous, 


271 

satirical,  and  poetical,  ever  instructive  and  ever 
entertaining,  the  stamp  of  intense  individuality  is 
upon  them  all.  Latterly,  under  a  benevolent  im- 
pulse, he  took  the  field  as  a  lecturer.  On  his  first 
appearance  in  this  new  capacity,  his  chairman 
was  the  Duke  of  Argyle — a  nobleman  who,  ever 
since  Mr.  Miller's  introduction  to  the  British 
Association,  cherished  for  him  the  highest  con- 
sideration. Like  Burns,  who,  casting  from  him 
the  poor  sixpence  a-day,  served  zealously 'as  a 
volunteer,  whatever  oral  services  he  could  render 
his  countrymen  were  rendered  gratuitously.  At 
length,  however,  this  continuous  and  multifarious 
toil  proved  too  much.  Even  with  prolonged  periods 
of  nearly  complete  cessation  from  the  labors  of 
the  journalist,  he  did  not  rally  as  formerly.  He 
had  been  forbidden  all  mental  exertion  by  his 
medical  advisers  during  the  latter  months  of  1856  ; 
but  "  The  Testimony  of  the  Rocks  "  kept  him  in 
harness  until  the  middle  of  December.  The  last 
sheets  of  the  work  had  been  corrected,  and  its 
author  had  begun  to  rejoice  in  his  completed  toil, 
when  the  same  enemy  that  so  mysteriously  pros- 
trated the  stripling  in  the  quarry  of  Cromarty, 
menaced  the  sage  with  seven-fold  fury.  In  dreams 
and  visions  of  the  night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth 
upon  men,  horrible  spectres  haunt  his  pillow — 
reason  reels — he  feels  as  if  ridden  by  witches,  and 
rises  from  his  couch  more  wearied  than  he  lay 
down.  These  painful  and  ominous  symptoms  in- 
duced Mrs.  Miller  to  request  the  kind  friend,  whose 


272  MEN    WHO    HAVE    iilSEX. 

professional  attentions  are  so  touchingly  alluded  to 
in  the  dedication  of"  The  Testimony  of  the  Rocks," 
to  visit  her  husband.  The  visit  of  the  genial  and 
accomplished  Professor  exerted  the  happiest  in- 
fluence, and  the  evening  was  spent  quietly  with 
his  family.  During  tea,  Mr.  Miller  read  aloud 
Cowper's  "  Castaway,"  and  the  sonnet  to  Mary 
Unwin.  A  little  while  afterwards  he  went  up 
stairs  to  his  study.  At  the  appointed  hour  he 
took  the  bath  his  medical  adviser  recommended, 
but  the  medicine  prescribed  he  did  not  take. 
Next  morning  his  body  was  found  lying  lifeless  on 
the  floor — the  feet  upon  the  study  rug — the  chest 
pierced  with  the  ball  of  a  revolver,  which  had 
fallen  into  the  bath  by  his  side.  On  looking 
round  the  room,  a  folio  sheet  of  paper  was  dis- 
covered on  the  table,  and  on  the  centre  of  the 
page  the  following  lines  were  written : 

"  DEAREST  LYDIA  : — My  brain  burns.  I  must 
have  walked,  and  a  fearful  dream  rises  upon  me. 
I  cannot  bear  the  horrible  thought.  God  and 
Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  have  mercy  upon 
me  !  Dearest  Lydia,  dear  children,  farewell.  My 
brain  burns  as  the  recollection  grows.  My  dear 
wife,  farewell.  HUGH  MILLER." 

"  0  life,  as  futile  then  as  frail — 

O  for  thy  voice  to  soothe  and  bless ! 
What  hope  of  answer  or  redress 
Behind  the  veil,  behind  the  veil  ?  '* 

In  awe  and  mystery  we  stand  by  the  grave  of 
genius,  thus  suddenly  disappearing  from  the  scene 


STOUT  OF  UUGII  MILLEfi's  EARLY  DAYS.      273 

o?  its  triumphs,  rather  disposed  to  meditate  in 
silence  than  read  aloud  the  lessons  to  be  learned 
there.  Mr.  Miller's  concluding  words  in  "  The 
Story  of  my  Education"  convey,  however,  the  most 
appropriate  lesson  which  could  be  given  in  such 
a  volume  as  this.  He  says :  "  In  looking  back 
upon  my  youth,  I  see,  methinks,  a  wild  fruit  tree, 
rich  in  leaf  and  blossom;  and  it  is  mortifying 
enough  to  mark  how  very  few  of  the  blossoms 
have  set,  and  how  diminutive  and  imperfectly 
formed  the  fruit  is  into  which  even  the  productive 
few  have  been  developed.  A  right  use  of  the 
opportunities  of  instruction  afforded  me  in  early 
youth  would  have  made  me  a  scholar  ere  my 
twenty-fifth  year,  and  have  saved  to  me  at  least  ten 
of  the  best  years  of  life — years  which  were  spent 
in  'obscure  and  humble  occupations.  But  while 
my  story  must  serve  to  show  the  evils  which  re- 
sult from  truant  carelessness  in  boyhood,  and  that 
what  was  sport  to  the  young  lad  may  assume  the 
form  of  serious  misfortune  to  the  man,  it  may  also 
serve  to  show  that  much  may  be  done  by  after 
diligence,  to  retrieve  an  early  error  of  this  kind — 
that  life  itself  is  a  school,  and  nature  always  a 
fresh  study — and  that  the  man  who  keeps  his 
eyes  and  his  mind  open  will  always  find  fitting, 
though,  it  may  be,  hard  schoolmasters,  to  speed 
him  on  in  his  life-long  education." 

And  now,  before  closing  this  brief  narrative,  the 
reader  will  perhaps  pardon  us  for  interposing  a  cor- 
rection of  a  mischievous  misreading  of  that  lesson. 
18 


274:  MEN"   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

which  has,  in  some  quarters,  obtained  currency. 
Hugh  Miller,  it  is  said,  fell  the  victim  of  a 
baffled  ambition  and  an  austere  theology.  His 
grand  effort  to  reconcile  geology  with  Genesis  had 
failed,  and  the  consciousness  of  that  failure  was 
the  cause  of  the  eclipse  in  which  reason  and  life 
were  extinguished.  So  the  terrible  tragedy  of  the 
24th  December,  1856,  is  interpreted.  To  such  as 
possess  any  true  conception  of  his  character,  the 
interpretation  must  be  eminently  unsatisfactory. 
That  the  precise  mode  in  which  science  and  reve- 
lation might  be  harmonized,  presented  no  diffi- 
culties to  Hugh  Miller,  we  do  not  affirm.  But, 
while  quite  aware  the  theory  on  which  he  lavished 
the  riches  of  his  imagination  was  open  to  question 
— had,  indeed,  been  already  questioned — the  hopes 
inspired  by  the  book  of  God  never  wavered. 
While  exploring  the  abysmal  depths  of  his  favor- 
ite study,  heaven's  own  light  still  shed  its  supernal 
splendors  over  his  spirit,  and  in  quite  another  than 
a  despondent  mood  did  he  contemplate  the  ter- 
mination of  his  labors  upon  "  The  Testimony  of 
the  Rocks."  The  doubt  with  which  the  discords 
of  nature  inspire  some  minds  did  not  perplex  his. 
Through  all  the  mists  of  scientific  speculation,  the 
eternal  pole-star  still  remained  for  him  an  authen- 
tic luminary.  No  scrap  of  writing,  no  word 
breathed  even  in  the  ear  of  friendship,  warrants 
the  conclusion  to  which  grave  and  able  editors 
have  not  scrupled  to  rush.  We  have  said  that 
the  seeds  of  the  malady  which  prostrated  Hugh 


STORY    OK   HUGH    MILLEJi's   EARLY   DAYS.    275 

Miller  were  sown  in  the  quarry  of  Cromarty ;  per- 
haps it  had  been  more  correct  to  have  said,  that 
there  they  received  their  first  marked  develop- 
ment. If  the  matter  was  completely  investigated, 
we  suspect  that  a  constitutional  tendency  to  cere- 
bral disease  would  be  found  to  have  existed.  For 
some  six  or  seven  years  he  had  been  complaining 
that  he  no  longer  worked  as  he  was  wont  to  do. 
With  double  toil,  but  half  the  results  of  earlier, 
better  days,  could  now  be  produced.  The  jaded 
spirit  was  spurred  to  its  tasks  under  the  pressure 
of  motives  whose  force  the  noblest  minds  alone 
can  feel.  Remonstrances  of  affection  and  predic- 
tions of  physicians  were  alike  unheeded.  Nothing 
was  feared  until,  suddenly,  the  dread  of  a  calamity 
no  longer  to  be  concealed  precipitated  the  very 
catastrophe  from  which  he  recoiled.  A  clearer 
case  of  cerebral  disorder  does  not  exist.  That, 
with  the  warnings  received,  he  should  have  con- 
tinued unawakened  to  the  perils  of  his  position,  only 
shows  how  sometimes  the  best  of  men,  absorbed  in 
special  pursuits,  may  neglect  what  is  of  unspeak- 
able importance  to  remember.  In  his  eagerness 
to  read  the  wondrous  story  of  an  earlier  world, 
Hugh  Miller  forgot  he  was  himself  fearfully  and 
wonderfully  made.  Over  all  men  the  natural  and 
organic  laws  assert  paramount  authority.  A  man 
so  constitued  as  Hugh  Miller  was  ever  in  imminent 
and  peculiar  peril  from  their  transgression;  yet 
the  peril  was  put  far  from  him,  and  every  monition 
of  its  approach,  even  while  confessed,  was  un- 


276  MEH    WHO    HAVE   KISEN. 

heeded.  He  could  warn  brother  editors  of  the 
dangers  of  overwork,  yet  by  a  singular  fatality  he 
himself  continued  to  burn  the  midnight  oil.  Thus 
it  came  to  pass,  that  he  who  had  done  for  the 
geology  what  Burns  had  done  for  the  songs  of 
Scotland,  perished  in  the  meridian  of  his  powers. 


LINKEIJS,  THE  NATUKALIST. 

LIKE  many  other  men  of  genius,  Linnaeus  was 
of  humble  origin.  He  could  not  boast  a  noble 
parentage  ;  he  did  not  in  any  degree  owe  his  fame 
to  the  rank  and  wealth  of  his  connections.  His 
ancestors  were  obscure  peasants ;  his  father  was 
an  humble  Christian  pastor  in  the  village  of 
Rashult,  in  the  province  of  Smaland,  in  Sweden, 
where,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1707,  the  celebrated 
naturalist  was  born.  The  original  family  name 
was  Nils ;  but  the  father  of  Linnaeus,  being  the 
first  member  of  a  learned  profession  known  to  be- 
long to  his  line,  had,  in  accordance  with  a  custom 
prevalent  in  Sweden,  changed  his  family  name 
with  his  profession.  That  he  now  adopted  was 
borrowed  from  a  large  Linden-tree  which  grew  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  native  place.  Charles  was  des- 
tined for  the  church,  but  he  early  showed  that 
passion  for  flowers — that  ardent  thirst  for  the 
beauties  of  nature,  which  shaped  his  subsequent 
career.  A  patch  of  the  garden  was  assigned  to 


278  MEN    WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

him,  in  dressing  which,  Charles  spent  many  of  the 
sunny  hours  of  his  boyhood.  Cultivating  tho- 
little  nook  in  his  father's  garden,  the  genius  and 
tastes  of  the  boy  were  developed ;  and  we  fancy 
him  bending  with  fond  delight  over  one  favorite 
flower  bursting  into  bloom,  or  with  intense 
anxiety  gazing  on  another  about  to  droop  and  die. 
When  seven  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  school. 
His  first  teacher  was  no  ornament  to  his  profes- 
sion. At  this  school  Charles  acquired  but  little. 
At  his  second — the  grammar-school  at  Wexio,  a 
town  adjoining  his  native  village — he  was  by  no 
means  noted  for  his  diligence  and  proficiency. 
The  fields  were  his  study — flowers,  fruits,  and  in- 
sects, the  objects  of  his  first  love.  Hence,  instead 
of  attending  to  the  tasks  prescribed  to  him,  he 
spent  his  time  in  rambling  over  the  country ;  and 
though  his  teacher  discovered  in  him  some  traits 
of  genius,  he  was  regarded  by  his  schoolfellows  as 
a  truant. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  entered  the  upper 
college  at  Wexio,  where  his  deficiencies  as  a  clas- 
sic were  quickly  detected,  and  threatened  with 
severe  and  summary  punishment.  The  same  con- 
stitutional tendency  still  held  sway;  the  books 
were  neglected,  the  fields  were  frequented.  Com- 
plaints were  made  to  his  father,  who,  convinced 
that  his  son  would  never  prosper  as  a  divine, 
resolved  to  apprentice  him  to  a,  shoemaker. 

Through  the  timely  interference  of  a  medical 
professor  in  the  College  of  Wexio,  who  had  saga- 


LINXJ2U8,    THE   NATURALIST. 

city  enough  to  detect  tho  buddings  of  genius  in 
the  mind  of  Charles  Linnaeus,  this  purpose  was 
fortunately  abandoned.  This  man,  whose  name 
was  Dr.  John  Rothmann,  offered  to  take  him 
under  his  charge  for  a  year,  and  to  supply  all  his 
necessary  wants.  As  natural  history  Avas  not 
likely  to  prove  a  very  paying  study,  it  was  resolved 
also  that  Charles  should  qualify  himself  for  the 
practice  of  medicine.  Under  the  roof  of  this 
medical  professor,  he  had  ample  means  of  enlarg- 
ing his  information;  and  that,  too,  upon  the  par- 
ticular department  of  science  to  which  he  was 
devoted.  Here  he  remained  till  he  was  about 
twenty,  when  he  entered  the  university  of  Lund. 
On  quitting  his  first  college,  the  rector  gave  him  a 
testimonial  in  these  most  appropriate  terms : — 
"Students  may  be  compared  to  the  trees  of  a 
nursery.  Often  among  the  young  plants  are  found 
some  which,  notwithstanding  the  care  that  has 
been  bestowed,  resemble  wild  shoots ;  but,  if 
transplanted  at  a  later  period,  they  change  their 
nature,  and  sometimes  bear  delicious  fruit.  With 
this  hope  I  send  this  young  man  to  the  university, 
where  another  climate  may  prove  favorable  to  his 
progress."  At  this  new  seminary,  under  the  kind 
care  of  the  professor  of  medicine  and  botany, 
Linna3us  made  great  improvement,  enjoying  as  he 
did  numerous  facilities  for  cultivating  his  favorite 
tastes.  He  afterwards  entered  the  University  of 
Upsal,  where  he  had  to  encounter  many  of  those 
privations  with  which  the  student  has  so  often  to 


280  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEK. 

struggle.  He  was,  in  fact,  chiefly  dependent  for 
food  and  clothing  on  the  charity  of  his  college 
companions. 

At  this  time  an  event  happened,  most  favorable 
to  his  views  and  pursuits.  The  bleak  and  barren 
regions  of  Lapland  had  been  less  explored  than 
any  of  the  Swedish  provinces.  A  society  vras 
instituted  at  TJpsal,  chiefly  with  the  view  of  making 
inquiry  regarding  the  natural  productions  of  that 
kingdom.  By  this  association  he  was  chosen  to 
make  this  inquiry.  He  has  left  us  an  account  of 
the  manner  in  which  he  was  equipped  when  he  set 
out  on  his  expedition.  "My  clothes,"  says  he, 
"  consisted  of  a  light  coat  of  West  Gothland  lin- 
sey-woolsey cloth,  without  folds,  lined  with  red 
shalloon,  having  small  cuffs  and  collar  of  shag ; 
leather  breeches ;  a  round  wig ;  a  green  leather 
cap ;  and  a  pair  of  half-boots.  I  carried  a  small 
leather  bag,  half  an  ell  in  length  but  somewhat 
less  in  breadth,  furnished  on  one  side  with  hooks 
and  eyes,  so  that  it  could  be  opened  and  shut  at 
pleasure.  This  bag  contained  one  shirt ;  two  pair 
of  false  sleeves;  two  half-shirts;  an  inkstand, 
pen-case,  microscope,  and  spying-glass ;  a  gauze 
cap,  to  protect  me  occasionally  from  the  gnats  ;  a 
comb ;  my  journal,  and  a  parcel  of  paper  stitched 
together  for  drying  plants,  both  in  folio  ;  my  manu- 
script Ornithology,  Flora  Uplandica,  and  Charac- 
teres  Generic!.  I  wore  a  hanger  at  my  side,  and 
carried  a  small  fowling-piece,  as  well  as  an  octan- 
gular stick  for  the  purpose  of  measuring.  My 


LENTOSUS,   THE  KATHRALIST.  28J 

pocket-book  contained  a  pass-port  from  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Upsal,  and  a  recommendation  from  the 

Academy." 

Thus,  somewhat  grotesquely  accoutred,  with  a 
few  of  the  necessaries,  but  none  of  the  luxuries,  for 
such  an  expedition,  did  Linnaeus  start  for  the  cold 
regions  of  Lapland.  After  great  privations  and 
untiring  industry,  his  mission  proved  eminently 
successful. 

Returning  to  Upsal,  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Sciences  evinced  their  sense  of  the 
worth  of  his  services  by  choosing  him  as  one  of  its 
members;  and  in  1775  he  commenced  a  course  of 
lectures  on  botany,  chemistry,  and  mineralogy.  As 
he  had  not  yet  taken  his  degree,  his  doing  this  was 
contrary  to  the  statutes  of  the  university :  he  was 
accordingly  dragged  before  its  senate,  and  for- 
bidden to  continue  his  lectures.  His  prospects  in 
connection  with  the  University  of  Upsal  being  for 
the  time  blasted,  Linnaeus,  along  with  some  of  his 
pupils,  visited  the  province  of  Dalecarlia,  with  the 
view  of  making  fresh  discoveries  in  mineralogy 
and  botany.  While  resident  in  Fahlun,  the  capi- 
tal of  the  province,  he  became  acquainted  writh  one 
of  its  most  eminent  physicians,  whose  name  was 
Morseus,  and  who,  in  addition  to  his  professional 
distinction  was  reputed  as  one  of  the  wealthiest 
individuals  in  the  district.  The  physician  had  two 
daughters,  with  the  oldest  of  whom  Linnaeus  fell 
violently  in  love.  The  lady  did  not  object,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  thought  she  could  never  give  her 


MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

hand  to  one  worthier  of  it.     The  old  man,  how- 
ever, was  more  difficult   to   please.      When   the 
future  son-in-law  mustered  courage  to  moot  the 
question  to  Dr.  Morseus,  he  was  given  to  under- 
stand that,  though  there  were  no  objections  on  the 
score  of  character,  his  present  circumstances  and 
future  prospects  were  scarcely  all  that  could  be 
wished.    His  answer  to  Linnseus  was  to  this  effect : 
that  should  he  obtain  his  diploma,   and   in   the 
course  of  three  years  thereafter  succeed  in  estab- 
lishing for  himself  a  respectable  practice,  he  should 
have  the  hand  of  his  favorite  Sarah.     The  terms 
were  by  no  means  unreasonable ;  but  as  Swedish 
students  at  this  time  required  to  take  their  degree 
at  some  foreign  university,  this  involved  an  ex- 
pense too  heavy  for  our  botanist.     Miss  Morseus, 
however,  had  contrived  to  save  a  considerable  sum 
off  the  pocket-money  allowed  her  by  her  father, 
which  was  placed  at  her  lover's  disposal.     This,  in 
addition  to  his  own  earnings,  enabled  him  to  ac- 
complish the  desired  object.     After  visiting  his 
friends  and  the  grave  of  his  mother,  who  had  died 
some  months  previous,  preparing  his  academical 
dissertations,  and  arranging  his  papers,  he  set  out 
from  Fahlun  in  the  month  of  April,  1735,  and 
obtained  his  degree  at  Harderwycke.     He  subse- 
quently visited  Leyden,  where  he  published  several 
of  his  most  valuable  treatises,  and  became   ac- 
quainted with  Dr.  Boerhaave,  and  many  other  ce- 
lebrated persons.     These  treatises  were  the  result 
of  much  toil  and  patient  research — his  industry  at 


LINXJ2US,    THE   NATUEAJLIST.  283 

this  period  almost  surpassing  belief.  When  he 
had  visited  England  and  some  other  countries  on 
the  Continent,  he  returned  to  Sweden;  and,  hav- 
ing gained  for  himself  a  respectable  practice — we 
should  say  rather,  having  risen  to  the  top  of  his 
profession  —  he  led  Sarah  Elizabeth,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Moraeus,  to  the  altar  of  wedlock,  with 
the  consent  of  all  parties.  Though  his  talents  and 
professional  zeal  would  almost  have  secured  his 
success  anywhere,  his  rapid  advancement,  his 
several  appointments  to  be  botanist  to  the  King 
of  Sweden  and  physician  to  the  Admiralty,  were 
in  some  measure  due  to  his  having  completely 
cured  Queen  Eleonora  of  a  cough,  which  had  for 
some  tune  troubled  her  Majesty. 

He  was  subsequently  appointed  to  one  of  the 
medical  chairs  in  the  University  of  Upsal,  and  was 
afterwards  made  professor  of  botany — a  situation 
most  congenial  to  his  taste,  and  for  which  we  need 
not  say,  he  was  admirably  qualified.  Thus  was 
awarded  to  him  an  honor,  which,  we  may  believe, 
of  all  others  he  most  coveted — an  honor,  however, 
no  more  than  the  just  reward  of  the  zeal  he  had 
displayed  in  the  prosecution  of  his  studies. 

Linna3us  had  his  own  share  of  bodily  ailments. 
He  suffered  much,  especially  towards  the  close  of 
his  career,  from  repeated  attacks  of  rheumatism 
and  gout.  He  may  be  said  to  have  fallen,  as 
heroes  of  every  name  rejoice  to  fall,  at  his  post ; 
for,  after  an  attack  of  apoplexy,  with  which  he  was 
seized  when  delivering  one  of  his  lectures  in  the 


284:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   ETSEX. 

Botanical  Garden,  he  never  recovered  his  strength. 
The  period  of  second  childhood  came.  The  ac- 
complished Linnaeus  ceased  to  recognize  his  own 
works,  and,  it  is  said,  even  forgot  his  name.  He 
died  on  the  10th  of  January,  1778,  having  ex- 
ceeded by  about  one  year,  the  threescore  and  ten. 
The  following  is  his  own  account  of  his  personal 
appearance :  "  The  head  of  Linnoeus  had  a  re- 
markable prominence  behind,  and  was  transversely 
depressed  at  the  lambdoid  suture.  His  hair  was 
white  in  infancy,  afterwards  brown,  in  old  age, 
grayish.  His  eyes  were  hazel,  lively,  and  pene- 
trating ;  their  power  of  vision  exquisite.  His  fore- 
head was  furrowed  in  old  age.  He  had  an  oblit- 
erated wart  on  the  right  cheek,  and  another  on 
the  corresponding  side  of  the  nose.  His  teeth 
were  unsound,  and,  at  an  early  age,  decayed  from 
hereditary  toothache." 

The  department  of  science  to  which  Linnaeus  de- 
voted himself  has  a  charm  for  almost  every  mind. 
While  insects  are  humming  around  us,  and  flowers 
sending  their  fragrance  across  our  path,  his  name 
is  not  likely  to  be  forgotten.  He  was  a  prince 
among  naturalists,  as  Newton  and  Kepler  were 
among  astronomers. 


SMEATCOT,  THE  ENGUSTEEK. 

THE  simple  means  which  men  of  genius  find  to 
bring  the  wonderful  faculties  with  which  they  are 
endowed  into  action,  is  indeed  a  fit  subject  for  ad- 
miration. He  who  has  music  in  himself  imparts  it 
to  some  rude  instrument  of  his  own  construction ; 
a  burned  stick  has  been  known  to  be  the  first  im- 
plement with  which  a  gifted  artist  has  practiced 
his  divine  art ;  and,  as  in  the  case  of  Giotti,  as  he 
watched  his  flocks,  the  faithless  sand  has  supplied 
the  first  tablet  to  which  his  sketches  have  been 
transmitted.  Handel,  in  his  childhood,  was  pro- 
hibited from  heaiing  a  note  of  music,  and  it  was 
by  stolen  snatches  that  this  sublime  genius  found 
vent  for  the  inspiration  which  was  to  charm  the 
world.  Everything  was  done  to  repress  the  pas- 
sionate love  of  his  art,  which  Michael  Angelo 
Buonarotti  evinced  from  his  earliest  days.  The 
father  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  was  seriously  dis- 
pleased with  him  when  he  discovered  the  draw- 
ings which  he  had  made  on  his  exercise-book. 


286  MEN    WHO   HAVE   EISEK. 

The  reproof  which  he  gave  the  boy  remained  in 
black  and  white  on  the  copy-book,  long  after  Sir 
Joshua  had  attained  the  highest  eminence — 
"  Done  by  Joshua  out  of  pure  idleness."  Watt 
was  very  sharply  rebuked  by  his  aunt,  one  even- 
ing at  the  tea-table,  for  his  "  listless  idleness,"  as 
she  observed  him  taking  off  the  lid  of  the  kettle, 
and  putting  it  on  again — now  holding  a  cup,  and 
then  a  silver  spoon  over  the  steam,  as  it  issued 
from  the  spout,  and  reckoning  the  drops  of  water 
into  which  it  was  condensed.  Little  did  the  gocd 
lady  think,  when  she  chided  the  "  troublesome  brat," 
that  he  was  taking  his  first  hints  for  the  applica- 
tion of  the  mighty  power  which  was  to  produce 
such  momentous  changes  in  the  world,  and  by 
which  his  name  was  to  be  immortalized. 

The  genius  of  John  Smeaton,  the  great  engineer 
appeared  from  his  earliest  infancy,  and  was  not 
at  ah1  in  accordance  with  his  father's  plans  for 
his  advancement.  When  a  child  in  petticoats,  he 
might  be  seen  dividing  circles  and  squares.  He 
rejected  all  the  toys  in  which  children  delight,  se- 
lecting for  his  playthings  the  tools  with  which  he 
fashioned  models  of  machines.  But  his  greatest 
enjoyment  was  to  watch  men  at  work,  and  ask 
them  questions.  When  about  six  years  old,  he 
was  one  day  missed,  and,  on  being  searched  for, 
was  at  last  found,  to  the  terror  of  his  father  and 
mother,  mounted  on  the  roof  of  a  barn,  fixing  up 
a  windmill  of  his  own  construction.  It  was  at 
about  the  same  period  that  he  watched  with  great 


SMEATON,  THE  ENGINEER.         287 

interest  the  progress  of  some  men  who  were  fixing 
a  pump  in  the  neighborhood.  Having  procured 
from  them  a  piece  of  bored  pipe,  he  determined  he 
would  have  a  pump  of  his  own.  He  succeeded  in 
making  one  which  could  raise  water.  There  were 
heavy  complaints  made  against  "  Master  John" 
for  destroying  the  fish  hi  the  ponds  with  his  mo- 
dels of  machines  for  raising  water  from  one  to  the 
other.  His  daughter,  in  alluding  to  his  infant 
days,  speaks  of  his  career  having  been  one  of  in- 
cessant labor,  front  six  years  old  to  sixty.  At 
school  he  had  to  give  his  attention,  during  the 
day,  to  his  exercises ;  but  at  night,  while  others 
slept,  he  resumed  his  favorite  pursuit.  When 
about  fourteen,  he  had  made  for  himself  an  engine 
to  turn  rose-work ;  and  bestowed  boxes  of  ivory 
and  wood,  turned  by  himself,  on  his  acquaintances. 
A  friend  of  his,  who  was  destined  for  a  mechanical 
employment,  was  perfectly  astonished,  when  he 
went  on  a  visit  to  him,  to  see  all  that  he  had  ac- 
complished. He  forged  his  iron  and  steel,  and 
melted  his  metal  himself.  He  had  made  tools  of 
every  kind  for  working  in  wood,  ivory,  and  metals. 
He  had  made  a  lathe,  by  which  he  had  cut  a  per- 
petual screw  in  brass — a  thing  little  known  at  that 
time.  He  had  manufactured  an  extensive  set  of 
tools,  with  which  he  worked  in  most  of  the  me- 
chanical trades — genius  and  industry  more  than 
supplying  the  place  of  the  instruction  of  which  he 
had  never  had  advantage. 

His  father  was  an  attorney,  and  intended  him 


288  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

for  the  bar.  He  went  up  to  London  to  attend 
the  courts,  but  his  heart  lay  in  those  pursuits  by 
which  he  became  so  distinguished.  Longing  to 
devote  himself  exclusively  to  them,  he  wrote 
strongly  to  his  father  on  the  subject,  who  wisely 
acceded  to  his  wishes,  and  allowed  him  to  turn 
to  that  profession  for  which  nature  herself  seemed 
to  have  intended  him — a  profession  embracing  all 
that  is  most  useful  in  science,  and  calling  into  ac- 
tion some  of  the  noblest  attributes  of  man — energy 
and  judgment,  forethought  and  patience.  The 
wonderful  ingenuity  of  invention  which  he  ap- 
plied to  machinery  of  various  kinds,  and  the  im- 
provements which  he  introduced  in  the  construc- 
tion and  working  of  mills,  were  of  incalculable 
benefit.  His  industry  was  equal  to  his  ability. 
Ever  ardent  in  desire  for  improvement,  he  went  to 
Holland  and  the  Lower  Countries,  for  the  purpose 
of  inspecting  the  works  of  art,  and  traveled  011 
foot. 

An  opportunity  was  soon  to  occur  to  bring  his 
great  abilities  into  notice.  The  Eddystone  Light- 
house, which  had  been  swept  away  by  the  memor- 
able storm  of  the  26th  of  November,  1703,  had 
been  rebuilt,  but  was  again  destroyed  by  a  fatal 
catastrophe.  It  happened  on  the  2d  of  December* 
1755,  that  some  fishermen  went  to  prepare  their 
nets  at  a  very  early  hour  in  the  morning.  They 
were  much  startled  on  perceiving  volumes  of 
flame  issuing  from  the  Eddystone  Light-house. 
They  instantly  gave  the  alarm,  and  a  neighbor- 


S1IEATON,    THE   ENGINEER.  280 

ing  gentleman  sent  out  a  boat  and  men  to  re- 
lieve the  sufferers,  if  they  were  still  in  life.  They 
did  not  reach  the  light-house  till  about  ten  o'clock. 
The  fire  had  now  been  racing  for  about  eight  hours. 
It  was  first  discovered  by  the  light-keeper  upon 
watch,  who  went  into  the  lantern  at  about  two 
o'clock,  to  snuff  the  candles.  He  found  the  place 
filled  with  smoke,  and,  on  opening  the  door  of  the 
lantern  into  the  balcony,  flames  issued  from  the 
cupola.  It  was  some  time  before  his  companions 
heard  him  call  for  assistance,  as  they  had  been  all 
asleep.  By  the  time  they  reached  him,  all  the 
water  left  in  the  buckets  at  hand  was  expended. 
He  urged  his  companions  to  fill  them  again  from 
the  sea;  but  the  difficulty  of  getting  it  from  such 
a  height,  and  their  confusion  and  terror,  rendered 
them  quite  powerless.  The  poor  light-keeper — 
now  in  his  ninety-fourth  year — continued  to  make 
the  most  wonderful  exertions ;  but,  completely 
exhausted  by  the  unavailing  labor,  and  the  severe 
injuries  which  he  had  received  from  the  melting 
lead,  he  was  obliged  to  desist.  The  three  men 
Avho  were  with  him,  terrified  by  his  miserable  sit-  - 
ation,  and  the  extreme  agonies  he  was  suffering 
were  quite  incapacitated.  As  the  fire  approached 
them  more  nearly,  they  rushed  into  one  of  the 
lower  rooms,  to  delay  the  horrible  doom  which 
threatened  them,  even  for  a  few  moments.  When 
the  boatmen  reached  them,  they  found  the  poor 
sufferers  crouching  together  in  a  kind  of  cave,  or 
rather  hole  on  the  east  side  of  the  rock,  just  under 
19 


WHO    HATE   RISEIT. 

the  iron  ladder.  They  had  contrived  to  reach 
this  cleft,  into  which  they  crept  to  escape  the  fall- 
ing timbers  and  red-hot  bolts.  It  was  with  the 
greatest  difficulty  they  were  got  off.  They  had 
no  sooner  reached  the  shore,  than  one  of  the  poor 
men,  no  doubt  crazed  by  the  terrors  which  he  had 
undergone,  ran  away,  and  was  never  heard  of 
again.  The  poor  old  man  languished  in  great  tor- 
ture for  about  ten  days,  when  death  relieved  him 
from  his  sufferings.  Soon  after  this  dreadful  dis- 
aster, it  was  resolved  that  the  light-house  should 
be  rebuilt ;  but  some  difficulty  arose  as  to  finding 
a  competent  person  to  undertake  such  a  stupen- 
dous work,  when  Mr.  Smeaton  was  strongly 
recommended  by  Lord  Macclesfield,  president  of 
the  Royal  Society,  under  whose  notice  he  had  been 
brought  by  the  communications  which  he  had 
forwarded,  from  time  to  time,  for  the  last  seven 
years,  descriptive  of  improvements  and  inventions 
of  his  own,  remarkable  for  great  ingenuity,  and 
showing  ability  of  a  very  high  order.  Such  an 
impression  had  he  made  on  the  society,  that  he 
svas  unanimously  elected  one  of  its  members. 
Wilson,  the  painter,  was  deputed  to  announce  to 
Smeaton  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  superin- 
tend the  great  work.  So  unthought  of  was  such 
an  offer,  that  Smeaton  was  at  a  loss  to  understand 
Wilson's  letter ;  but,  concluding  that  a  permission 
to  send  proposals  for  undertaking  the  work  was 
couched  under  ambiguous  terms,  he  wrote  such 
an  answer  as  showed  his  mistake.  Another  letter 


SMEATON,    THE   ENGINEER.  291 

arrived  from  Wilson.  It  was  opened.  There  was 
no  possibility  of  misunderstanding  its  meaning. 
"  Thou  art  the  man,"  was  all  that  it  said. 

Every  engagement  was  relinquished,  and  Mr. 
Smeaton  entered,  with  all  the  energy  of  a  great 
spirit,  into  the  undertaking,  and  on  those  wild 
rocks  succeeded  in  erecting  a  building  as  remark- 
able for  strength  and  durability  as  it  is  for  pic- 
turesque effect — a  building  which  is  the  proudest 
monument  with  which  a  name  can  be  associated. 
The  wild  appearance  of  the  rocks,  the  rushing 
eddies,  and  the  foaming  waves,  make  the  situation 
of  the  light-house  one  of  the  most  striking  that  can 
be  conceived.  In  three  years  the  work  was  com- 
plete. Of  that  time,  it  has  been  calculated  that 
there  were  but  431  days  wJien  it  was  possible  to 
stand  on  the  rock,  and  so  small  a  portion  of  these 
was  available,  that  the  building  in  reality  occu- 
pied but  six  weeks.  The  whole  was  completed 
without  the  slightest  accident  to  any  person ;  and 
so  well  and  systematically  arranged  was  the  whole 
conduct  of  the  work,  that  neither  confusion  nor 
delay  retarded  its  progress  for  an  hour.  Nothing 
can  show  the  dreariness  of  the  situation  where 
this  building  stands,  more  than  an  account  of  the 
life  which  the  four  men  lead  who  are  appointed  to 
take  care  of  it.  They  take  the  charge  by  two, 
and  are  relieved  by  the  others  at  the  end  of  six 
weeks,  if  winds  and  waves  permit ;  but  it  often 
happens,  particularly  in  tempestuous  weather,  that 
no  boat  can  touch  there  for  many  months.  Salt 


MEN    WHO   HAVE   KISEN. 

provisions  are  laid  up  as  for  a  ship  prepared  for  a 
long  voyage.  When  winds  prevail,  "  the  dash- 
ing of  the  waves  creates  such  a  briny  atmosphere, 
that  a  man  exposed  to  it  could  not  draw  his  breath. 
During  such  visitations,  the  two  lonely  beings 
keep  closely  shut  up  in  their  solitary  abode,  living 
in  darkness,  and  listening  to  no  sound  but  the 
awful  howling  of  the  storm,  and  the  wild  rushing 
waves,  as  they  lash  against  the  building."  Our 
respect  and  admiration  for  the  consummate  skill 
and  ability  to  which  the  success  of  so  great  an 
undertaking  was  owing,  and  for  the  fine  qualities 
of  mind  which  were  essential  for  the  endurance 
of  the  labor  and  fatigue  with  which  it  was  accom- 
plished, have  given  a  deep  interest  to  whatever 
we  have  chanced  to  meet  with  relative  to  Mr. 
Smeaton.  He  was  just  thirty-five  years  of  age 
when  the  light-house  was  finished.  By  his  promp- 
titude and  skillful  measures,  London  Bridge  was 
saved  from  falling,  when  its  destruction  appeared 
inevitable.  He  made  the  river  Calder  navigable 
— a  work  that  could  only  have  been  achieved  by 
the  greatest  judgment  and  skill,  as  its  floods  were 
frightfully  impetuous.  He  planned  and  superin- 
tended the  execution  of  the  great  canal  in  Scot- 
land, for  conveying  the  trade  of  the  country  either 
to  the  Atlantic  or  German  Ocean.  He  applied 
his  own  improvements  and  inventions  to  the  con- 
structing of  mills,  and  a  great  variety  of  works. 
Moderate  in  his  desires  and  temperate  in  his 
habits,  he  had  no  wish  to  amass  jjreat  wealth,  and 


SAIEATOX,    THE    ENGINEER.  293 

declined  splendid  offers  from  the  Empress  of  Rus- 
sia, made  through  the  Princess  Dashkoff.  She 
earnestly  desired  his  superintendence  over  the 
great  national  works  which  she  had  in  contempla- 
tion, and  would  have  secured  it  at  any  cost.  He 
felt  that  his  own  country  had  the  first  claim  on 
him,  and  he  declined  the  offer.  "  You  are  a  great 
man,  sir,"  said  the  Princess,  "  and  I  honor  you. 
I  doubt  whether  you  have  your  equal  in  abilities, 
but  in  character  you  stand  certainly -single.  The 
English  minister  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  was  mis- 
taken, and  my  sovereign  has  the  misfortune  to  find 
a  man  who  has  not  his  price."  That  "  the  abili- 
ties of  the  individual  were  a  debt  due  to  the  com- 
mon stock  of  public  happiness  or  accommodation," 
was  a  maxim  of  his,  to  which,  on  all  occasions,  he 
acted  up. 

For  many  years  of  Mr.  Smeaton's  life,  he  was 
a  constant  attendant  on  parliament ;  and  whatever 
bill  he  supported  was  in  almost  every  instance 
carried.  It  was  his  invariable  rule,  when  re- 
quested to  forward  any  measure,  to  make  himself 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  its  merits  before  he 
would  engage  in  it.  His  complete  knowledge  of 
the  subject,  and  the  remarkable  clearness  with 
which  he  expressed  himself,  carried  great  weight, 
and  secured  the  attention  and  confidence  of  all 
who  heard  him.  Lord  Mansfield  and  others 
complimented  him  from  the  bench,  for  the  new 
light  which  he  threw  on  difficult  subjects.  His 
language  in  speaking  and  writing,  was  so  strong 


MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

and  perspicuous,  that  his  meaning  could  never  bb 
mistaken,  and  all  that  was  necessary  for  those  who 
worked  under  him  was  to  hear  what  he  said,  and 
do  neither  more  nor  less  than  he  desired.  Con- 
tact with  the  world,  which  in  too  many  instances 
blunts  the  feelings  and  takes  from  native  simpli- 
city of  character,  has  generally  been  found  to  have 
a  contrary  effect  on  those  engaged  in  pursuits 
which  promote  the  happiness  and  comfort  of 
others  ;  for  they  are  almost  invariably  conspicuous 
for  simplicity  of  disposition  and  tenderness  of 
heart.  That  it  was  so  with  John  Smeaton,  we 
have  ample  testimony,  and  none  more  touching 
than  that  borne  by  his  daughter,  who  says  that  he 
was  "  devoted  to  his  family  with  an  affection  so 
lively,  a  manner  at  once  so  cheerful  and  serene, 
that  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  the  charms 
of  conversation,  the  simplicity  of  instructions,  or 
the  gentleness  with  which  they  were  conveyed, 
most  endeared  his  home — a  home  in  which  from 
infancy  we  cannot  recollect  to  have  seen  a  trace 
of  dissatisfaction,  or  a  word  of  asperity  to  any 
one."  The  simple  integrity  of  his  deportment  to 
those  of  higher  rank  was  sure  to  win  their  esteem, 
and  his  kindness  and  consideration  made  him  an 
object  of  veneration  to  his  inferiors.  He  was 
highly  regarded  and  looked  up  to  by  the  members 
of  his  own  profession.  The  modesty  which  almost 
always  accompanies  real  greatness  of  mind  must 
have  served  to  endear  him  to  them.  So  little, 
indeed,  was  he  elated  by  his  acknowledged  superi- 


SMEATON,    THE   ENGIKEEB.  295 

ority,  that  even  in  his  own  family  it  was  a  matter 
of  some  difficulty  to  lead  him  "  to  speak  of  himself, 
his  pursuits,  or  success."  Many  of  his  evenings 
were  passed,  with  his  professional  friends,  in  the 
Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  which  he  had  been  one 
of  the  first  to  form. 

Early  in  life,  Mr.  Smeaton  formed  an  intimacy 
with  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Queensberry 
which  was  curiously  brought  about.  It  happened 
one  evening,  when  he  was  walking  in  Ranelagh 
with  Mrs.  Smeaton,  that  he  observed  an  elderly 
lady  (who  was  the  eccentric  Duchess  of  Queens- 
berry)  looking  at  him  with  evident  interest.  After 
some  time,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smeaton  stopped,  and 
the  lady  advanced,  and  addressed  Mr.  Smeaton : 
"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  I  don't  know  who  you  are,  or 
what  you  are ;  but  you  resemble  my  poor  dear 
Gay  so  strongly  that  we  must  be  acquainted. 
You  must  come  home  and  sup  with  us ;  and  if  the 
minds  of  the  two  men  accord,  us  do  their  coun- 
tenances, you  will  find  two  cheerful  old  folks,  wrho 
can  love  you  well ;  and  I  think — or  you  are  a 
hypocrite — you  well  deserve  it."  An  invitation 
so  oddly  given  was  as  frankly  accepted,  and  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life  the  warmest  friend- 
hip  subsisted  between  them,  and  in  their  society 
Mr.  Smeaton  found  his  most  agreeable  relaxa- 
tion. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Smeaton,  whenever 
he  could  find  time,  to  publish  an  account  of  his 
various  inventions  and  the  works  in  which  he 


296  MEN    \Y110    HATE    RISEN. 

had  been  engaged.  In  the  year  1785,  his  de- 
clining health  suggested  that  the  time  was  come 
when  he  might  relinquish  more  active  occupa- 
tion, and  that  it  was  a  fitting  period  for  putting 
his  intention  into  execution,  and  he  felt  that 
he  could  not  set  about  anything  which  could 
be  more  useful.  But  he  could  not  resist  the 
solicitations  of  his  friends,  who  urged  him  to 
take  the  superintendence  of  various  works.  He 
was  so  warmly  pressed  to  accept  the  place  of 
engineer  to  the  harbor  of  Ramsgate  by  his  friend 
Mr.  Aubert,  who  was  chairman,  that  he  was  unable 
to  refuse.  As  he  was  not  able  to  devote  himself 
exclusively  to  preparation  for  his  publications,  as 
he  had  wished,  some  valuable  acquisitions  to  the 
libraries  of  the  scientific  may  have  been  lost  ;  but 
after  his  death  several  works,  in  addition  to  those 
which  had  already  appeared>  were  published. 
Among  these  eminently  useful  productions,  is 
"  Smeaton's  Reports,"  which  ranks  high  as  a 
standard  work,  and  is  indeed  a  text-book  wThich 
none  of  the  profession  would  be  without. 

The  sad  misfortune  which  Mr.  Smeaton  had 
long  anticipated,  occurred  as  he  was  walking  in 
his  garden,  on  the  16th  of  September,  1792 — he 
was  struck  with  palsy.  The  dread  of  outliving 
his  faculties,  was  far  more  distressing  to  him  than 
the  thought  of  any  bodily  suffering ;  but  he  was 
happily  spared  the  trial,  and  nothing  could  exceed 
his  pious  thankfulness  in  finding  his  intellect  unin- 
jured. The  tender  consideration  which  he  showed 


SMEATON,  THE  ENGINEER.        297 

for  the  feelings  of  his  family  on  this  afflicting  oc- 
casion served  to  endear  him  still  more.  He  used 
every  means  to  soften  the  blow  to  them,  by  setting 
them  an  example  of  entire  resignation.  Still  it  was 
his  wish  to  be  released ;  but  he  lingered  on  for 
six  weeks.  During  that  interval,  as  we  are  told 
by  his  daughter,  "  all  his  faculties  and  affections 
were  as  clear  and  animated  as  ever,  and  he  exer- 
cised his  ingenuity  in  devising  means  by  which  he 
could  assist  himself  without  troubling  those  about 
him.  He  occupied  himself  with  calculations  with 
as  much  interest  as  before  the  stroke.  He  desired 
to  see  all  the  occupations  and  amusements  of  the 
family  go  on  as  usual.  He  took  his  accustomed 
interest  in  the  music  and  drawing,  and  joined  in 
conversation  with  all  his  wonted  cheerfulness. 
He  sometimes  fancied  and  lamented — what  no 
one  else  could  perceive — his  own  slowness  ;  and 
then  he  would  add — with  a  gentle  smile,  4  It  could 
not  be  otherwise — the  shadow  must  lengthen  as 
the  sun  goes  down.'  A  few  evenings  before  he 
died,  his  family  were  gathered  about  him,  and  one 
of  his  children  asked  him  about  some  phenomena 
of  the  moon.  He  gave  the  required  explanation 
with  ah1  the  clearness  and  precision  for  which  he 
was  so  remarkable.  While  he  yet  spoke,  the 
moon  shone  brightly  into  the  chamber.  He 
gazed  on  it  in  rapt  earnestness  for  a  few  moments ; 
then,  turning  to  those  about  him,  he  said  :  '  How 
often  have  I  looked  up  to  it  with  inquiring  won- 
der to  that  period  when  I  shah1  have  the  vast  and 
13* 


298  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

privileged  view  of  a  hereafter,  and  all  will  be  com- 
prehension and  pleasure  !'  "  On  the  28th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1792,  in  his  68th  year,  John  Smeaton  was 
removed  from  the  world,  for  which  he  had  dono 
so  much. 


RITTENHOUSE,   THE   MATHEMATICIAN. 

DAVID  RiTTEiraousE  was  born  near  German- 
town,  Pennsylvania,  April  8th,  1732.  The  family 
originally  came  from  Guelderland,  a  province  in 
Holland.  They  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
while  it  was  a  Dutch  colony,  and  were  the  first 
who  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  in  this 
country.  The  father  of  David  Rittenhouse 
abandoned  the  occupation  of  a  paper-maker,  when 
about  twenty-nine  years  of  age,  and  commenced 
the  business  of  a  farmer,  on  a  piece  of  land  which 
he  had  purchased  in  the  township  of  Norriton, 
about  twenty  miles  from  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
It  seems  that  he  very  early  designed  his  son  for 
this  useful  and  respectable  employment.  Accord- 
ingly, as  soon  as  the  boy  arrived  at  a  sufficient 
age  to  assist  in  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  farm, 
he  was  occupied  as  a  husbandman.  This  kind 
of  occupation  appears  to  have  commenced  at  an 
early  period  of  his  life.  About  the  fourteenth 
year  of  his  age,  he  was  employed  in  ploughing  in 


300  MEN   WHO   HATE   EISENT. 

his  father's  fields.  His  brother  Benjamin  relates, 
that  while  David  was  thus  engaged  at  the  plough, 
he  (the  informant),  then  a  young  boy,  was  fre- 
quently sent  to  call  him  to  his  meals;  at  which 
times  he  repeatedly  observed,  that  not  only  the 
fences  at  the  head  of  many  of  the  furrows,  but 
even  his  plough  and  its  handles,  were  covered 
over  with  chalked  numerical  figures.  Astronomy 
was  a  favorite  pursuit.  He  also  applied  himself 
industriously  to  the  study  of  optics,  the  mechanical 
powers,  &c.,  without  the  advantage  of  the  least 
instruction.  About  the  seventeenth  year  of  his 
age,  he  made  a  wooden  clock  of  very  ingenious 
workmanship;  and  soon  after,  he  constructed  one 
of  the  same  materials  that  compose  the  common 
four-and-twenty  hour  clock,  and  upon  the  same 
principles.  He  had,  much  earlier  in  life,  exhibited 
proofs  of  his  mechanical  genius,  by  making,  when 
only  seven  or  eight  years  old,  a  complete  water- 
mill  in  miniature. 

With  many  valuable  traits  of  character,  old 
Mr.  Rittenhouse  had  no  claims  to  what  is  termed 
genius.  Hence  he  did  not  properly  appreciate 
the  early  specimens  of  talent  which  appeared  in 
his  son  David.  He  was,  for  some  time,  opposed 
to  the  young  man's  earnest  desire  to  renounce 
agricultural  employments,  for  the  purpose  of 
devoting  himself  altogether  to  philosophical  pur- 
suits, in  connection  with  some  such  mechanical 
profession  as  might  best  comport  with  useful 
objects  of  natural  philosophy,  and  be  most  likely, 


RITTENHOUSE,    THE   ^lATHEMATICIAN.  301 

at  the  same  time,  to  afford  him  the  means  of  a 
comfortable  subsistence.  At  length,  however,  the 
father  yielded  his  own  inclinations,  in  order  to 
gratify  what  was  manifestly  the  irresistible  im- 
pulse of  his  son's  genius.  He  supplied  him  with 
money  to  purchase,  in  Philadelphia,  such  tools  as 
were  more  immediately  necessary  for  commencing 
the  clock-making  business,  which  the  son  then 
adopted  as  his  profession.  About  the  same  time, 
young  Mr.  Rittenhouse  erected,  on  the  side  of  a 
public  road,  and  on  his  father's  land,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Norriton,  a  small  but  commodious  work- 
shop ;  and  after  having  made  many  implements 
of  the  trade  with  his  own  hands,  to  supply  the 
deficiency  in  his  purchased  stock,  he  set  out  in 
good  earnest,  as  a  clock  and  mathematical  instru- 
ment maker.  From  the  age  of  eighteen  or  nineteen 
to  twenty-five,  Mr.  Rittenhouse  applied  himself 
unremittingly,  both  to  his  trade  and  his  studies. 
Employed  throughout  the  day  in  his  attention  to 
the  former,  he  devoted  much  of  his  nights  to  the 
latter.  Indeed,  he  deprived  himself  of  the  neces- 
sary hours  of  rest ;  for  it  was  his  almost  invariable 
practice  to  sit  up  at  his  books  until  midnight, 
sometimes  much  later. 

When  Mr.  Rittenhouse's  father  established  his 
residence  at  Norriton,  and  during  the  minority  of 
the  son,  there  were  no  schools  in  the  vicinity  at 
which  anything  more  was  taught,  than  reading 
and  writing  in  the  English  language,  and  the 
simplest  rules  of  arithmetic.  Young  Ritten- 


302  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

house's  school  education  was,  therefore,  necessarily 
bounded  by  very  narrow  limits.  He  was  in 
truth  taught  nothing  beyond  those  very  circum- 
scribed studies,  which  have  been  named,  prior  to 
his  nineteenth  year.  The  zeal  with  which  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  will  be  seen  from  the  following  ex- 
tract of  a  letter,  written  in  September,  1756,  being 
then  little  more  than  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
"  I  have  not  health  for  a  soldier  "  (the  country 
was  then  engaged  in  war),  "  and  as  I  have  no 
expectation  of  serving  my  country  in  that  way,  I 
am  spending  my  time  in  the  old  trifling  manner, 
and  am  so  taken  with  optics,  that  I  do  not  know 
whether  if  the  enemy  should  invade  this  part  of 
the  country,  as  Archimedes  was  slain  while  mak- 
ing geometrical  figures  on  the  sand,  so  I  should 
die  making  a  telescope." 

An  incident  now  occurred  which  served  to  make 
known  more  extensively,  the  extraordinary  genius 
of  Rittenhouse.  His  mother  had  two  brothers, 
David  and  Lewis  Williams  (or  William),  both  of 
whom  died  in  their  minority.  David,  the  elder 
of  these,  pursued  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  or 
joiner.  Though,  like  his  nephew  and  namesake, 
he  was  almost  wholly  an  uneducated  youth,  he 
also,  like  him,  early  discovered  an  unusual  genius 
and  strength  of  mind.  After  the  death  of  this 
young  man,  on  opening  a  chest  containing  the 
implements  of  his  trade,  which,  was  deposited  at 
Mr.  M.  Rittenhouse's  (in  whose  family  it  is  pre- 
sumed he  dwelt),  a  few  elementary  books,  treatino- 


RITTENHOUSE,    THE   MATHEMATICIAN.          303 

of  arithmetic  and  geometry  were  found  in  it. 
With  these,  there  were  various  calculations  and 
other  papers,  in  manuscript ;  all  the  productions 
of  David  Williams  himself,  and  such  as  indicated 
not  only  an  uncommon  genius,  but  an  active 
spirit  of  philosophical  research.  To  this  humble 
yet  valuable  coffer  of  his  deceased  uncle,  Ritten- 
house  had  free  access,  while  yet  a  very  young 
boy.  He  often  spoke  of  this  acquisition  as  a 
treasure,  inasmuch  as  the  instruments  belonging 
to  his  uncle  afforded  him  the  means  of  gratifying 
and  exercising  his  mechanical  genius,  while  the 
books  and  manuscripts  early  led  his  mind  to 
those  congenial  pursuits  in  mathematical  and 
astronomical  science,  which  were  ever  the  favor- 
ite objects  of  his  studies.  This  circumstance, 
probably,  occurred  before  his  twelfth  year. 
"It  was  during  the  residence  of  Rittenhouse 
with  his  father  at  Norriton,"  says  his  eulogist, 
Dr.  Rush,  "that  he  made  himself  master  of 
Sir  Isaac  Newton's  Principia,  which  he  read 
in  the  English  translation  of  Mr.  Motte.  It  was 
here,  likewise,  that  he  became  acquainted  with  the 
science  of  fluxions ;  of  which  sublime  invention, 
he  believed  himself  for  a  while  to  be  the  author, 
nor  did  he  know  for  some  years  afterwards,  that 
a  contest  had  been  carried  on  between  Sir  Isaac 
Newton  and  Leibnitz,  for  the  honor  of  that  great 
and  useful  discovery."  Mr.  Rittenhouse's  early 
zeal  in  his  practical  researches  into  astronomy, 
prompted  him  to  desire  the  greatest  possible 


304:  MEN   WHO   HATE   KISEN. 

accuracy  in  the  construction  of  time-pieces  adapted 
to  astronomical  purposes ;  and  uniting,  as  he  did, 
operative  skill  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
principles  upon  which  their  construction  depends, 
he  was  enabled,  by  his  own  mechanical  ingenuity, 
to  gain  a  near  approach  to  the  perfection  to  which 
the  pendulum-chronometer  may  be  brought. 

"  There  is  nothing  peculiar  in  the  mechanism 
of  this  time-piece  which  requires  to  be  mentioned, 
except  the  pendulum ;  especially  the  apparatus  for 
counteracting  the  effects  of  temperature.  For 
this  purpose,  there  is  fastened  on  the  pendulum- 
rod  (which  is  of  iron  or  steel)  a  glass  tube  about 
thirty-six  inches  long;  bent  in  the  middle  into 
two  parallel  branches,  at  the  distance  of  about  an 
inch  from  each  other;  the  bend  being  placed 
downwards,  immediately  above  the  bob  of  the 
pendulum.  The  tube  is  open  at  one  end,  and 
closed  at  the  other ;  the  arm  which  is  closed  at 
the  top  is  filled,  within  about  two  inches  of  the 
lower  end  or  bend,  with  alcohol,  and  the  rest  of 
the  tube,  within  about  one  half  of  an  inch  of  the 
upper  extremity,  or  open  end,  with  mercury ;  a 
few  inches  of  the  tube,  at  this  extremity,  being 
about  twice  the  width  of  the  rest  of  the  tube. 

"  Now,  when  the  heat  of  the  air  increases,  it 
will  expand  the  pendulum-rod,  and  would  thus 
lower  the  centre  of  oscillation,  and  cause  the 
clock  to  go  slower ;  but  this  effect  is  completely 
counteracted,  by  the  expansion  of  the  alcohol 
chiefly,  and  of  the  mercury  in  part ;  which  equally 


BnTENHOTTSE,    THE   MATHEMATICIAN".          305 

raises  the  centre  of  oscillation,  and  thus  preserves 
an  equable  motion  in  all  the  variable  temperatures 
of  the  atmosphere." 

The  great  accuracy  and  exqusite  workmanship 
displayed  in  everything  belonging  to  the  profes- 
sion which  Mr.  Rittenhouse  pursued,  that  came 
through  his  hands,  soon  became  extensively 
known  in  that  portion  of  the  United  States  where 
he  lived.  This  knowledge  of  his  mechanical 
abilities,  assisted  by  the  reputation  which  he  had 
already  acquired  as  a  mathematician  and  astrono- 
mer, in  a  short  time  procured  him  the  friendship 
and  patronage  of  some  eminent  scientific  men. 
In  mechanics  he  was  entirely  self -taught.  He 
never  received  the  least  instruction  from  any 
person,  in  any  mechanic  art  whatever.  If  he 
were  to  be  considered  merely  as  an  excellent 
artist,  in  an  occupation  intimately  connected  with 
the  science  of  mechanics,  untutored  as  he  was  in 
any  art  or  science,  he  would  deservedly  be  deemed 
an  extraordinary  man. 

In  the  bosom  of  his  father's  family  he  long  con- 
tinued to  enjoy  the  tranquil  scenes  of  rural  life, 
amidst  the  society  of  an  amiable  and  very  intelli- 
gent family  circle,  and  surrounded  by  many 
estimable  neighbors,  by  whom  he  was  both  loved 
and  respected.  His  chief  occupation  was  that  of 
the  profession  which  he  had  chosen  ;  but  the  occa- 
sional intervals  of  leisure  from,  his  business,  which 
his  assistant  workmen  enabled  him  to  obtain,  he 
devoted  to  philosophical  and  abstract  studies, 
20 


306  MEN   WHO    HAVE   EISEN. 

In  February,  1766,  Mr.  Rittenliouse  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Eleanor  Colston,  the  daughter  of  a 
respectable  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
who  lived  in  the  neighborhood.  After  her  death 
he  married  Miss  Hannah  Jacobs. 

In  1767,  among  other  things,  he  contrived 
and  made  a  very  ingenious  thermometer,  con- 
structed on  the  principle  of  the  expansion  and 
contraction  of  metals  by  heat  and  cold,  respect- 
ively. This  instrument  had,  under  glass,  a  face 
upon  which  was  a  graduated  semicircle  ;  the 
degrees  of  heat  and  cold  corresponded  with  those 
of  Fahrenheit's  thermometer ;  and  these  were 
also  correspondingly  designated  by  an  index 
moving  on  the  centre  of  the  arch.  Its  square,  or 
rather  parallelogramical  form,  its  flatness  and 
thinness,  and  its  small  size,  together  with  its  not 
being  liable  to  the  least  sensible  injury  or  irregu- 
larity, from  any  position  in  which  it  might  be 
placed,  rendered  it  a  very  convenient  thermometer 
to  be  carried  in  the  pocket. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Rittenhouse  made  a  very 
ingenious  orrery.  Though  no  description,  in 
words,  can  give  an  adequate  idea,  yet  we  sub- 
join a  part  of  the  philosopher's  own  account  of 
it.  "This  machine  is  intended  to  have  three 
faces,  standing  perpendicular  to  the  horizon  ;  that 
n  the  front  to  be  four  feet  square,  made  of  sheet 
brass,  curiously  polished,  silvered  and  painted,  in 
proper  places,  and  otherwise  properly  ornamented. 
From  the  centre  arises  an  axis,  to  support  a 


EITTENHOUSEj    THE   MATHEMATICIAN.          307 

gilded  brass  ball,  intended  to  represent  the  sun. 
Round  this  ball  move  others,  made  of  brass  or 
ivory,  to  represent  the  planets.  They  are  to  move 
in  elliptical  orbits,  having  the  central  ball  in  one 
focus  ;  and  their  motions  to  be  sometimes  swifter, 
and  sometimes  slower,  as  nearly  according  to  the 
true  law  of  an  equable  description  of  areas  as 
possible,  without  too  great  a  complication  of  wheel- 
work.  The  orbit  of  each  planet  is  likewise  to  be 
properly  inclined  to  those  of  the  others ;  and  their 
aphelia  and  nodes  justly  placed ;  and  their  veloci- 
ties so  accurately  adjusted  as  not  to  differ  sensibly 
from  the  tables  of  astronomy  in  some  thousands  of 
years. 

"For  the  greater  beauty  of  the  instrument,  the 
balls  representing  the  planets  are  to  be  of  consid- 
erable bigness,  but  so  contrived  that  they  may  be 
taken  off  at  pleasure,  and  others,  much  smaller, 
and  fitter  for  some  purposes,  put  in  their  places. 

"When  the  machine  is  put  in  motion,  by  the 
turning  of  a  winch,  there  are  three  indices  which 
point  out  the  hour  of  the  day,  the  day  of  the 
month,  and  the  year  answering  to  that  situation  of 
the  heavenly  bodies  which  is  there  represented ; 
and  so  continually,  for  a  period  of  five  thousand 
years,  either  forwards  or  backwards. 

"  The  two  lesser  faces  are  four  feet  in  height, 
and  two  feet  three  inches  in  breadth.  One  of 
them  will  exhibit  all  the  appearances  of  Jupiter 
and  his  satellites,  their  eclipses,  transits,  and  in- 
clinations ;  likewise  all  the  appearances  of  Saturn, 


308  :       ,        MEST  WHO  HAVE  BISEN. 

with  his  ring  and  satellites.  And  the  other  will 
represent  all  the  phenomena  of  the  moon — particu- 
larly the  exact  time,. quantity,  and  duration  of  her 
eclipses  —and  those  of  the  sun  occasioned  by  her 
interposition  ;  with  a  most  curious  contrivance  for 
exhibiting  the  appearance  of  a  solar  eclipse  at  any 
particular  place  on  the  earth,  likewise  the  true 
place  of  the  moon  in  the  signs,  with  her  latitude 
and  the  place  of  her  apogee  in  the  nodes  ;  the  sun's 
declination,  equation  of  time,  &c.  It  must  be  un- 
derstood that  all  these  motions  are  to  correspond 
exactly  with  the  celestial  motions ;  and  not  to  differ 
several  degrees  from  the  truth  in  a  few  revolutions, 
as  is  common  in  orreries." 

Some  general  idea,  perhaps,  of  this  instrument 
may  be  derived  from  the  preceding  description ; 
at  least  it  will  afford  sufficient  evidence  of  the 
extraordinary  philosophical  and  mechanical  powers 
of  Rittenhouse. 

'  Among  the  most  important  service  which  he 
rendered  for  the  world,  was  the  observation  of 
the  transit  of  Venus  over  the  sun's  disc,  which 
took  place  on  the  third  of  June,  .1769.  There 
had  been  but  one  of  these  transits  of  Venus  over 
the  sun  during  the  course  of  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty  years .  preceding  that  of  176-9  ;  and,  for 
upwards  of  seven  centuries^  antecendently  to  the 
commencement  of  that  period,  the  same  planet 
had  passed  over  the  sun's  disc  no  more  than  thir 
teen  times.  The  next  transit  of  Venus  will  take 
place  on  the  8th  of  December,  1874,  which  but  few, 


BITTEftHOUSE,    THE  MATHEMATICIAN.        <  309 

if  any  persons  then  on  the  stage  of  life  will  have 
an  opportunity  of  observing.  From  1874,  down 
to  the  14th  of  June,  A.  D.,  2984,  inclusively — a 
period  of  upwards  of  eleven  centuries — the  same 
planet  will  pass  over  the  sun's  disc  only  eighteen 
times. 

The  great  use  of  the  observation  of  the  transit 
of  Venus  is  to  determine  the  sun's  parallax.* 
Only  two  of  these  phenomena  had  been  observed 
since  the  creation  of  the  world,  and  the  first  had 
been  seen  by  only  two  persons — Jeremiah  Horrox 
and  William  Crabtree,  two  Englishmen.  As  the 
time  approached  when  this  extraordinary  pheno- 
menon was  to  manifest  itself,  the  public  expectation 
and  anxiety  were  greatly  excited.  The  American 
Philosophical  Society  appointed  thirteen  gentle- 
men, to  be  distributed  into  three  committees,  for 
the  purpose  of  making  observations.  Rev.  Dr. 
Ewing  had  the  principal  direction  of  the  observa- 
tory in  the  city  of  Philadelphia ;  Mr.  Owen  Biddle 
had  the  charge  of  superintending  the  observations 
at  Cape  Henlopen,  and  Mr.  Rittenhouse  those  at 
ISTorriton,  near  his  own  residence,  on  an  elevated 
piece  of  ground,  commanding  a  good  range  of 
horizontal  view.  It  was  completely  furnished  with 
the  necessary  instruments,  owing  very  much 


*  A  parallax  denotes  a  change  of  the  apparent  place  of  any  heavenly 
body,  caused  by  being  seen  from  different  points  of  view;  or  it  is  the 
difference  between  the  true  and  apparent  distance  of  any  heavenly  body 
from  the  zenith.  The  fixed  stars  are  so  remote  as  to  have  no  sensible 
parallax;  and  even  the  sun  and  all  the  primary  planets,  except  Mars 
and  Venus  when  nearest  the  earth,  are  at  so  great  distances  from  the 
earth,  that  their  parallax  is  too  small  to  be  observed. 


310  MEK   WHO   HAVE   RISEN". 

to  the  liberality  of  some  scientific  gentlemen  in 
England. 

"  We  are  naturally  led,"  says  Dr.  Rush,  in  his 
eulogium,  "  to  take  a  view  of  our  philosopher,  with 
his  associates,  in  their  preparations  to  observe 
a  phenomenon  which  had  never  been  seen  but 
twice  before  by  any  inhabitant  of  our  earth,  which 
would  never  be  seen  again  by  any  person  then 
living,  and  on  which  depended  very  important 
astronomical  consequences.  The  night  before  the 
long-expected  day  was  probably  passed  in  a  degree 
of  solicitude  which  precluded  sleep.  How  great 
must  have  been  their  joy,  when  they  beheld  the 
morning  sun;  and  the  'whole  horizon  without  a 
cloud ;'  for  such  is  the  description  of  the  day,  given 
by  Mr.  Rittenhouse  in  his  report  to  Dr.  Smith. 
In  pensive  silence  and  trembling  anxiety,  they 
waited  for  the  predicted  moment  of  observation  : 
it  came — and  brought  with  it  all  that  had  been 
wished  for  and  expected  by  those  who  saw  it.  In 
our  philosopher,  in  the  instant  of  one  of  the  con- 
tacts of  the  planet  with  the  sun,  there  was  an 
emotion  of  delight  so  exquisite  and  powerful,  as  to 
induce  fainting; — such  was  the  extent  of  that 
pleasure,  which  attends  the  discovery  or  first  per- 
ception ot  truth." 

The  observations  of  Mr.  Rittenhouse  were  re- 
ceived with  favor  by  the  whole  philosophical  world. 
Mr.  Ludlam,  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the 
Philosophical  Society  of  London,  and  an  eminent 
astronomer,  thus  writes  :  "  No  astronomers  could 


KITTENHOUSE,    THE   MATHEMATICIAN. 

better  deserve  all  possible  encouragement ;  whether 
we  consider  their  care  and  diligence  in  making 
their  observations,  their  fidelity  in  relating  wnat 
was  done,  or  the  clearness  and  accuracy  of  their 
reasoning  on  this  curious  and  difficult  subject.  The 
more  I  read  the  transactions  of  your  Society  (the 
American  Philosophical),  the  more  I  honor  and 
esteem  the  members  of  it.  There  is  not  another 
Society  in  the  world  that  can  boast  of  a  member 
such  as  Mr.  RITTENHOUSE  ;  theorist  enough  to 
encounter  the  problems  of  determining,  from  a  few 
observations,  the  orbit  of  a  comet ;  and  also  me- 
chanic enough  to  make,  with  his  own  hands,  an 
equal-altitude  instrument,  a  transit-telescope,  and 
a  time-piece.  I  wish  I  was  near  enough  to  see  his 
mechanical  apparatus.  I  find  he  is  engaged  in 
making  a  curious  orrery." 

Dr.  Maskelyne,  Astronomer  Royal  at  Green- 
wich, says  :  "  The  Pennsylvania  Observations  of 
the  transit  were  excellent  and  complete,  and  do 
honor  to  the  gentleman  who  made  them,  and  those 
who  promoted  the  undertaking."  Dr.  Wrangel, 
an  eminent  and  learned  Swedish  clergyman,  speak- 
iiio-  of  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Philoso- 

O 

phical  Society,  says :  "  Your  accurate  observations 
of  the  transit  of  Venus  have  given  infinite  satisfac- 
to  our  Swedish  astronomers." 

On  the  9th  of  November  following,  Mr. 
Rittenhouse,  in  connection  with  several  others, 
observed  a  transit  of  Mercury  over  the  sun's 
disc. 


312  MEN   WHO   HAVE   EISEN. 

In  the  autumn  of  1770,  Mr.  Rittenhouse  removed 
with  his  family  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

A  new  phenomenon  in  the  heavens  soon  after 
engaged  his  attention ;  this  was  the  comet  which 
appeared  in  June  and  July,  1770.  "Here with  I 
send  you,"  says  Mr.  Rittenhouse,  writing  to  Dr. 
Smith,  "the  fruit  of  three  or  four  days'  labor, 
during  which  I  have  covered  many  sheets,  and 
literally  drained  my  ink-stand  several  times."  In 
another  letter  he  remarks,  "  I  told  you  that  some 
intricate  calculation  or  other  always  takes  up  my 
idle  hours  (he  seems  to  have  considered  all  his 
hours  'idle'  ones  which  were  not  taken  up  in 
some  manual  employment),  that  I  cannot  find 
time  to  write  to  my  friends  as  often  as  I  could 
wish ;  a  new  object  has  lately  engrossed  my 
attention.  The  comet  which  appeared  a  few 
weeks  since  was  so  very  extraordinary,  that  I 
could  not  forbear  tracing  it  in  all  its  wanderings, 
and  endeavoring  to  reduce  that  motion  to  order 
and  regularity  which  seemed  void  of  any.  This, 
I  think,  I  have  accomplished,  so  far  as  to  be  able 
to  compute  its  visible  place  for  any  given  time ; 
and  I  can  assure  you  that  the  account  from  York, 
of  its  having  been  seen  again  near  the  place 
where  it  first  appeared,  is  a  mistake.  Nor  is  Mr. 
Winthrop  of  Boston  happier,  in  supposing  that  it 
yet  crosses  the  meridian,  every  day,  between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock,  that  it  has  already  passed 
its  peripelion,  and  that  it  may,  perhaps,  again 
emerge  from  the  southern  horizon.  This  comet 


KITTENHOUSE,    THE   MATHEMATICIAN.  313 

is  now  to  be  looked  for  nowhere  but  a  little  to  the 
north  of,  and  very  near  to  the  ecliptic.  It  rises 
now  a  little  before  day-break  ;  and  will  continue  to 
rise  sooner  and  sooner  every  morning." 

In  March,  1771,  the  Legislature  of  Pennsyl- 
vania bore  the  following  honorable  testimony  to 
the  worth  of  Mr.  Rittenhouse  : . 

"  The  Members  of  Assembly  having  viewed  the 
orrery  constructed  by  Mr.  David  Rittenhouse,  a 
native  of  this  province,  and  being  of  opinion  that 
it  greatly  exceeds  all  others  hitherto  constructed, 
in  demonstrating  the  true  situations  of  the  celes- 
tial bodies,  their  magnitudes,  motions,  distances, 
periods,  eclipses,  and  order,  upon  the  principles  of 
the  Newtonian  system : 

"Resolved,  that  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
pounds  be  given  to  Mr.  Rittenhouse,  as  a  testi- 
mony of  the  high  sense  which  this  House  entertain 
of  his  mathematical  genius  and  mechanical  abili- 
ties, in  constructing  the  said  orrery." 

In  January,  1771,  Mr.  Rittenhouse  was  elected 
one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  American  Philo- 
sophical Society.  In  1789,  the  honorary  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Laws  was  conferred  upon  Mr. 
Rittenhouse  by  the  college  of  New  Jersey.  In 
January,  1791,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Franklin,  Dr. 
Rittenhouse  was,  with  great  unanimity,  elected 
President  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society. 
In  1795,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Society  of  London.  This  high  honor  had  been  pre- 
viously conferred  upon  only  three  or  four  Americans. 
14 


314:  MEN   WHO   HAVE   RISEN. 

But  he  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy  his  distin- 
guished honors.  Soon  after  his  entrance  upon 
the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  in  June,  1796,  he 
died. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  being  pastor  of 
the  congregation  in  which  Dr.   Rittenhouse  had 
often  attended  divine  worship  during   the  latter 
years    of   his    life,    pronounced    an    appropriate 
address    at    his    interment.       "This,"    says  Dr. 
Green,  "  is  emphatically  the  tomb  of  genius  and 
science.     Their  child,  their  martyr  is  here  depos. 
ited — and  their  friends  will  make  his  eulogy  in 
tears.     I   stand  not  here   to   pronounce   it ;  the 
thought   that   engrosses   my  mind   is   this :    how 
much  more   clear   and    impressive   must  be   the 
views  which  the  late  spiritual  inhabitant  of  that 
lifeless   corpse    now    possesses   of    GOD — of    his 
infinite  existence,  of  his  adorable  attributes,  and 
of  that   eternal  blaze   of   glory  which  emanates 
from  Him — than  when  she  was  blinded  by  her  vail 
of  flesh  !     Accustomed  as  she  was  to  penetrate  far 
into  the  universe — far  as  corporal  or  mental  vision 
here   can  reach — still  what    new  and   extensive 
scenes  of  wonder  have  opened  on  her  eyes  enlight- 
ened and  invigorated  by  death  !     The  discoveries 
of  RITTENHOUSE,  since  he  died,  have  already  been 
more,  and  greater,  than  while  he  lived.     Yes,  and 
could  he  address  us  from  the  spiritual  world,  his 
language  would  be — 

'  All,  a'l  on  earth  is  shadow,  all  beyond 
la  substance. — '  " 


BITT£XHOU5E,    THE   MATHEMATICIAN.  315 

In  a  conversation  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sproat, 
Dr.  Rittenhouse,  a  short  time  before  his  death, 
declared,  that  "  he  could  with  truth  say,  that  ever 
since  he  had  examined  Christianity  and  thought 
upon  the  subject,  he  was  a  firm  believer  in  it ;  and 
that  he  expected  salvation  only  in  the  way  of  the 
Gospel."  He  had  not  attached  himself  to  any 
particular  church.  The  members  of  his  family 
were  mostly  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  the 
last  years  of  his  life  he  read  many  books  on 
natural  and  revealed  religion.  He  was  much 
pleased  with  the  "  Thoughts  of  Pascal." 

He  was  a  very  modest  and  unassuming  man, 
and  in  this  strikingly  resembled  Sir  Isaac  Newton, 
for  whose  character  and  works  he  had  the  highest 
veneration.  His  usefulness,  though  great,  was 
considerably  circumscribed  by  his  want  of  an 
early  education.  In  consequence  of  this,  he  felt 
an  unbecoming  diffidence  in  his  own  powers,  and 
failed  to  commit  his  discoveries  and  thoughts  to 
writing,  which,  in  a  published  form,  would,  doubt- 
less, have  eminently  increased  his  usefulness,  and 
the  honor  of  the  country  which  gave  him  birth. 


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The   Complete   Works   of 
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A    BOOK    FOR    KVJEttY    FAMILY. 


THE  HOME  OF    WASHINGTON. 


MOUNT   YERNON 

AKD  ITS  ASSOCIATIONS, 

HISTORICAL,  BIOGRAPHICAL  AND  PICTORIAL. 
By   BENSON  J.  LOSSING, 

Author  of  "Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,"  "Hiftory 
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ILLUSTRATED  WITH  NEARLY  150  ENGRAVINGS, 

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